5 minutes with Devon young farmer Teegan Nevell
Welcome to “5 minutes with” where we get to know one of Britain’s brightest and best young farmers.
These brilliant young people are the future of the agriculture industry and we want to bring their lives, businesses, ideas and achievements to the fore.
By celebrating our young farmers and promoting what they do, we hope to generate even more interest in farming from younger generations and help make sure they get all the support they need to thrive in the future.
See also: What’s next? Options for farmers children leaving school
This time we’re getting to know Devon young farmer Teegan Nevell.
What’s your name and how old are you?
My name is Teegan Nevell and I’m 23 years old.
Where do you come from?
Colyton in Devon.
What sort of farm do you live/work on?
I work on a dairy farm, which I’ve been on for the past seven years.
What do you get up to on the farm?
I’m in charge of looking after the dairy cows, milking them twice a day. I’m also responsible for scrapping out the yard with a little Kubota tractor.
What do you get up to when you’re not farming?
I love going on walks with my two Jack Russell’s, even if it is to see the heifers.
What’s in your lunchbox?
It’s got to be a chicken sandwich, Granny Smith apple and a cup of tea with maybe a couple of biscuits.
What’s the best bit about farming?
I love seeing the cows growing up over the years. Getting to know their different personalities. I also love when the sun is shining and all the girls are happy outside.
What’s the most frustrating bit about farming?
TB testing – just an endless battle, as any dairy farmer knows. It’s upsetting when you have to send cattle off, even more frustrating when the cow is clear of TB when it gets tested at the slaughterhouse.
Where would you like to be in five years’ time?
I would like to be doing what I love doing now – farming. Blimey, I’ll be 28 years old by then – getting on a bit.
Who would you least like to be stuck in a lift with?
Donald Trump. I think he would talk me to death.
Are you a member of a Young Farmers Club?
I was a member of Honiton YFC last year.
What makes you laugh?
Comedians such as Alan Carr, Lee Evans and Jimmy Carr. I also love watching funny animal videos.
What makes you angry?
Protesting vegans, making farmers out to be really mean and cruel when we are just trying our best to look after our livestock.
What’s your proudest achievement to date?
Working my way up though my job role. I started off feeding the calves, then just under two years ago my boss asked me to take on milking.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?
“Don’t let your height stop you.” My college lecturer said this to me when I had to learn to hitch up a trailer with a tractor. I’m only 4ft 11in and I couldn’t still see the hitch when it was extended.
If I wasn’t scared, I would…
Bungee jump, but I’m scared of heights.
When you’re in the tractor cab, what’s your top tune, podcast or audiobook?
It’s got to be BBC Radio 1 all the way – I love all types of music.
If you won the lottery, what’s the first thing you would spend the money on?
I would love to buy a farm with beef and dairy cows. Also maybe a nice Land Rover Defender to get me around.
What do you think is the biggest challenge facing UK farming today?
Brexit, as none of us really know what’s going to happen and what it will do for the prices for our milk, meat or arable produce.
Tell us something about you that not many people know.
When I was younger I thought potatoes were transported around in cement mixer lorries. Don’t ask me why, my mum thought I was crazy.
Are you on Twitter and Instagram? Do you have a business page on Facebook?
I’m on Instagram @teegz110. I post regular photos of the dairy cows at work and a few tractor photos to show what we are getting up to.
If you are a young farmer or would like to nominate somebody for this feature, please email community editor Oli Hill with your name, age and a brief explanation what you do.