Bridgette Baker: I’ve become a farming fashion expert

From starting agricultural college to soon finishing my degree in agriculture this year, I’ve become qualified in the world of farming fashion.

I have always been slow to take up trends, but six years of working or studying agriculture under my polo belt has allowed me to catch up.

See also: Bridgette Baker – Clarkson’s capers raise serious farm safety concerns

In college, I mostly wore dealer boots, even though we didn’t do practical lessons every day. I have still never bought a pair of boat shoes, though I can see the practicality of them.

Many of my friends bought Le Chameau wellies ready for their first farming jobs, but I stayed loyal to my Aigles.

Since I joined Young Farmers, I have accumulated many YFC polo tops, which are perfect for farming in, with collars to shade your neck from the sun and made from cotton.

However, the “cheeky” slogans printed on the back can be a nuisance – trying not to turn around so my granddad doesn’t have time to read it.

Schöffels and gilets in general are a staple. They are versatile whether you end up outdoors, indoors, or even at a party.

I decided I would get one once I felt I deserved it – maybe after I felt like a knowledgeable farmer, as my impression of anyone wearing a Schöffel is that they know their stuff.

When I told my YFC friends I was going to the Royal Agricultural University, they all chipped in to surprise me with a green one and I was so thankful, as I wore it a lot during Freshers Week – it felt like a uniform.

I also love the “Young Farmers starter kit” of snazzy sunglasses and Canterbury shorts. We can pick out fellow farmers when on holiday in the city, even out of our natural habitat with a Schöffel and checked shirt or striped top.

There is also a way to tell what kind of farmer someone is by what they wear – from the tractor-branded overalls to the type of boots. I wonder what my penchant for dealer boots says about me?