'I knew I wanted to become a farmer at 15'

At an age when many teenagers were considering what career path to take, Andrew Massey already knew exactly what he wanted to do.

A visit to a family friend's dairy farm at the age of 15 sparked a passion that has shaped the past eight years of his life.

Now 23, Massey, from Sherbourne, Warwickshire, owns a flock of 16 sheep, breeds pedigree Suffolks and spends every day caring for his animals.

Despite volunteering for hundreds of hours on farms and building his own flock, he still needs a farm placement to begin his apprenticeship on his journey to become a full-time farmer.

He said: "We went to visit a friend who had a dairy farm and I asked if I could help with the animals and the milking.

"I loved the cows. They'd come up to me and give me licks on the face. It was amazing.

"That's when I knew this was what I wanted to do."

He spent the following years gaining experience on a variety of farms and learning as much as he could about livestock, before he fell in love with sheep.

"I started with a couple and now I've got my own flock", he said

"I've worked on different farms to get experience and that's what I still do while I'm trying to find an apprenticeship."

Massey began showing the sheep at agricultural events and said preparing them for competition required hours of washing, trimming and handling.

He said: "It's hard work. The sheep are brilliant. They stand there while you're doing it and if I give them a bit of food they stay nice and calm."

His dedication recently earned him success in the show ring, where he was named county champion.

But even with those achievements, the next step towards a career in farming depends on securing practical experience.

To begin a farm worker apprenticeship through Moreton Morrell College, he first needs a farm willing to take him on.

Government statistics suggest the number of apprenticeships in the wider agriculture, forestry and fisheries sector is growing.

But, at about 1,400 per year, there are far fewer than in more popular trades, with 80,000 in health and social work, and about 35,000 in motor repairs.

"I just want to find a farm where I can learn more, I want to learn everything about farming and caring for animals.

"It's my dream. I'm never going to stop doing it."

His mother, Mandy Massey, said she was proud of his determination.

She said: "We're not from a farming background at all. As a family we've always loved animals, but Andrew has really found his own way.

"He's so passionate about it and he looks after his animals really well."

She said her son had faced challenges with reading and writing following an ADHD diagnosis, but had never allowed them to stand in the way of his ambitions.

She said: "He doesn't let anything stop him. Every year we seem to see him progress a little bit more. He's just sold sheep that he's bred himself for the first time and it's amazing to see how far he's come."

Andrew hopes a Warwickshire farmer will be prepared to give him the opportunity he needs to take that next step.

He said: "I love them to bits, this is what I want to do with my life."

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