Studying part-time while working on the home farm

MY name is Jack McKeown and I am just finishing first term of the Level 2 Apprenticeship in Agriculture. I attend class one day a week in Enniskillen campus and for the remainder of the time I am employed by my father on our beef, sheep and poultry farm, near Eskra in County Tyrone.

Our farm extends to approximately 100 acres and the enterprises include beef, sheep and poultry. We run a 25 cow suckler cow to beef enterprise and we also take 70 stores through to beef. All progeny from our flock of 80 Suffolk mules, which are not retained, are finished. The poultry enterprise involves the production of free-range broilers.

I have plans to start up in milk production within the next two years. To do this, the beef and sheep enterprises will cease.

I have always wanted to work on my home farm but I knew that I needed to continue my education in agriculture. Full-time education was not for me. I enjoy being outside and doing practical work.

On looking at my options, the Level 2 Apprenticeship in Agriculture was the course that was the most suitable one for me, because it would allow me to study whilst continuing to work on my home farm.

At CAFRE, my classes are varied between studying theory in class and completing practical skills. The subjects we cover are animal health and welfare, animal selection and breeding and feeding livestock. It is a very practical course – we also get experience of carrying out routine treatments such as dosing and injecting and keeping records.

I enjoy this course as it allows me to learn new skills and pick up new ways of doing things. The industry and farm visits have been very good as these give us the opportunity to see and discuss different farming systems and enterprises. My work placement on my home farm also allows me to put the theory and skills that I have learnt on the course into practice.