Fresh air – nothing beats being out in the Irish country air that you call your office, or standing in a field of grazing cows in the sun.
Spring is here #calving17 pic.twitter.com/NUwm4rFozR
— Eugene Casey (@efcasey) March 15, 2017
Farmer’s tan – being outside all day every day in the summer means one thing: the farmer’s tan and nothing beats the first day you can take off the jumper and work in a T-shirt. A tan is a tan regardless though and who cares if you need to wear T-shirts whenever you’re out.
Social life – it is rare a day goes by that you don’t see one of your neighbouring farmers. You’ll chat about all the goings-on of the parish but you’re always kept in the loop. To add to your social life, most localities will have a Macra na Feirme branch to join.
Calving and lambing season – witnessing the miracle of birth over and over again is one of the best parts of being a farmer. It’s lovely seeing three-week-old lambs racing around the field in a pack in April, or calves taking their first shaky steps.
Freedom! #outtograss pic.twitter.com/HBGzc6vBfp
— FJ Sheep (@FJSheep) March 18, 2017
Watching livestock flourish – whether it’s cattle, sheep or chicken on the farmyard, nothing beats watching them come along. An added bonus is the bragging rights you have down the local about how hardy your stock is.
#Thriving pic.twitter.com/fQvGbW3LPK
— Patrick Donohoe (@PTCDonohoe) July 12, 2015
Boasting rights abroad – every pint of Guinness abroad has barley that might have been grown on an Irish farm. Plus, Kerrygold is sold everywhere from the US to Iran. We send heifers all over the world through Bóthar. We should be proud of the mark Irish farmers are having across the world – providing some great opportunities in Irish agribusinesses.
Second generation Irish in Rwanda! pic.twitter.com/3LnLMOd2Eu
— Aisling Hussey (@AislingHussey) November 10, 2014
Machinery – hooking up a machine for the first day of the season is a thrill, but especially the mower or combine.
Couldn't get it any better #silage16 pic.twitter.com/LacuGnNGTr
— Kieran Mc Dermott (@KieranMcD77) July 19, 2016
Hardy – nothing will make you hardier than being a farmer. You brave all the elements 365 days a year and nothing will faze you.
New skillset – is there anything you can’t do with a bit of bailing twine? I think not. Plus, we also boast an innate ability to forecast the weather. The skillset that farmers have is second to none and is not to be underestimated.
Baling twine, the patron saint of farmers throughout the land pic.twitter.com/ziCzybryw1
— Quintin Lake (@QuintinLake) March 15, 2017
Relaxing drives – have you ever been stuck behind a tractor when you’re running late and you’re becoming progressively more stressed? Of course. Bet that farmer wasn’t stressed though. We are always so chilled out bopping away to the creamery for some nuts. How much better can it get?
Agri Careers 2017 will take place on Thursday 30 March 2017 in the RDS Main Hall, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4 brought to you by Irish Farmers Journal and open eir. Click here for more information.
Click here to register for Agri Careers 2017
Kerrywoman Rachel Hussey is currently in exile in the UK where she has secured a good steady job as a primary school teacher. However, the promise of road frontage may persuade her to return home. The geography enthusiast knows a good soil sample and can tell her Limousins from her Belgian Blues.
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