Unlike many farming children, sisters Danielle (23) and Fiona Stewart (18) are in the fortunate position of knowing what their parents Francis and Agnes intend to do with their farm in Purt Dunfanaghy, Letterkenny, Co Donegal.

“We didn’t have a formal sit-down discussion but a couple of years ago we threw out the question,” recalls Danielle.

“Fiona came to me and asked me if we could get on farming together.”

When asked, their parents told the girls that if they wanted the farm, it was theirs, but there was no pressure.

The sisters plan to enter a three-way partnership with their father within five years.

“We will draw up contracts and if it doesn’t work out, there will be an exit plan. It’s the best way, like any business,” says Danielle.

Since drawing up their plan, the older sister has managed a 150-cow dairy herd in Co Tipperary while Fiona will go on to agricultural college after her Leaving Cert.

“Knowing what the plan is has given me peace of mind, knowing that I wouldn’t be working for nothing,” says Danielle, who wants to manage a bigger herd of 300 cows before moving back to Donegal.

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