A Week on the Estate: Farm 24, Versatile Josh & British Superbeef

“I gave it a go and applied. I took my laptop to Spain so that I could prepare while on holiday. There were two interviews. The first was with Gemma and Derek and I was asked how I’d prepare to host a country fair on the Estate. I then had a remote interview with Jon. I found it stressful and at one point stumbled off on a tangent about my relatives but I soon recovered. It was a bit daunting having a conversation with the CEO but Jon’s very down-to-earth.

“At Lincoln, the history degree is coursework-based and you can find your own way. I did my dissertation on British politics in the 1980s and my exhibition work on the bombing of cities during the Second World War. My interest in history was part of what drew me to South Ormsby Estate.

“The sustainability of South Ormsby Estate also appealed. Farms near where I grew up spray pesticides and there’s a strong agrichemical factor. It’s not like that here and Jon’s trying to make a difference. Jon’s vision will outlast him. He knows that what he’s doing is for the benefit of future generations. Not many people think that long-term. When I was looking for a job, the ethical side really mattered. It’s good to know that when you go to work, you’re contributing to a positive outcome. I do like how SOE is trying to do things better, putting respect for nature front and centre.

“During my year on the graduate scheme, I tried everything under the sun. I worked with Clint at the Hall on groundskeeping and maintenance. I saw how money was handled with the accounts team. The cattle placement was a big one and I really enjoyed it. I did a project on dung beetles and used my partner’s zoology contacts. I helped Darren with the digital cattle passports and database. I helped Charlie with the poultry operation and experienced the slaughtering process.

“There’s more! I helped Daria with commercial operations. Another big one was with Paul. I looked at woodland management and assessed the viability of woodland turkeys. I learned all about soil analysis, wild flowers, agronomy and grants. I met farmers at agricultural conferences with a remarkably diverse range of views. After Paul, I helped Gemma out with the Saturday Club and the Conservation Club.

“In April, my year on the graduate programme was up and I started a new full-time job of my own. I’m the Supervisor of Grab & Go Operations. I make sure the British Superbikes (BSB) side of things runs smoothly. I’ve been working with the ROKiT-Haslam team. I’ve got the beef smoker up and running and learned all about the smoking process. I help with marketing and social media.

“I personally attend every event on the BSB calendar, typically for a couple of days. I’ve got to order milk, defrost the beef, smoke it, arrange for cutting and generally bring all the essentials together and transport them to venues as far away as Knockhill in Fife. When I’m at an event, I’m busy networking and making sure all our customers are happy and go away with a positive impression of us. I’ve loved getting to be part of the BSB community. You get to know the young riders and build a rapport with them. You’re treated as part of the team and their sheer passion and drive leaves you rooting for them.

“This is South Ormsby Estate so naturally my role has expanded. I’ve recently helped to clean out the Hall prior to major work there and I’m now looking at audio-visual wildlife hides. Birdsong analysers have gone up around the Estate and from those we’ll build up a database on which species are out there. This will give us an idea of how well our agricultural approach is doing, and perhaps feed into wildlife experiences too.

“I like the fact that I’m getting all these projects. I’m in the office one day, trackside at Brands Hatch the next and then exploring Driby Wood’s bird-life with my ears still ringing from superbikes. The job description was right; no two days are the same.”

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