“I’ve always had a strong connection to agriculture. From a young age you could find me on the farm in my dungarees, helping my grandfather feed sheep and cattle. Those early years with a farming family and farming friends shaped my passion for agriculture and my commitment to it.
Making the dream a reality
"My farming career began as soon as I left school, when I stepped into the world of gamekeeping and game rearing. It wasn’t long before I decided to expand my knowledge, heading to Easton College to study for a Level 3 Extended Diploma in Agriculture. This set the stage for the next chapter of my career.
"I took a job as a herdsman on a suckler herd, supplying cattle to Waitrose. I then took on land work, gaining valuable experience in both livestock and arable farming. Next, I moved to a mixed farm in North Norfolk, managing around 1,800 acres and handling 300 head of cattle. It was a fantastic learning experience, especially in contract farming, and built my understanding of managing large-scale operations.
Spreading my wings
"I couldn’t ignore the lure of gamekeeping and took on a role at a commercial shoot. I put on 28 shoot days of bags between 175 and 200 birds, and over spring and summer reared 80,000 poults including pheasants, partridge, and ducks. It was an intense and rewarding experience that deepened my expertise in game rearing and biosecurity, as well as disease prevention and early detection.
"An exciting opportunity came next. I was offered a position on a farm where I could immerse myself in all aspects of agriculture. I was gamekeeper of the farm’s shoot, managed a 300-head suckler herd, managed hay, haylage, and silage for liveries, and was responsible for 800 acres of arable farming. It blended all the knowledge and skills I’d learned so far across multiple areas of agriculture, offering me the chance to develop a well-rounded understanding of the industry as a whole.
Part of your AF team
"Working on farms and using AF as a Member, I quickly realised the value of the co-operative model. Working together as an industry is vital, especially when margins are tight and time is always in short supply. It’s about saving both time and money while getting the job done efficiently. The idea of helping farmers across the country achieve this through the co-op really resonated with me, and I’m excited to be part of it.
"In my first few months working in the AF team at HQ, I’ve already had some fascinating conversations with Members about farming, learnt about different agricultural businesses, and explored the various methods that make their operation unique and how AF can help.
I’m looking forward to having lots more of these conversations and face-to-face meetings.”
James Davies, Business Development Manager