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Why are so many young women going into farming?

Liz NiceSuffolk
News imageSuffolk New College/Suffolk Rural Molly-Mae stands in a barn in front of a stack of hay bales. She has long brown hair and glasses and is smiling. She is wearing an orange macSuffolk New College/Suffolk Rural
Molly-Mae Reed is a farming student at Suffolk Rural and she is keen to go to schools to encourage others

Back in 2004, there were just five farming students at Suffolk Rural College in Otley. They were all male.

Now, in the 2025/2026 academic year, there are 115 students and almost 40% of them are female.

This percentage bucks the national trend for women in farming – a June 2025 report by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) found that 16% of principal farmers and holders were female, a figure largely unchanged over the last five years. So what is going on at Suffolk Rural?

News imageSuffolk New College Five women stand in front of a barn which says Suffolk Rural Farm in white capital letters. Enya wears a black waterproof jacket, and has her hair tied back. Daisy has a blue coat and jeans and a white jumper. She has long blonde hair. Ellie has a black coat and blonde hair. Mollie-Mae wears and orange coat with a hood and has long brown hair and glasses. Sophia is wearing a black jacket and jeans and black waterproof trousers. Her brown her is tied back off her face.Suffolk New College
From left to right: Enya Pearson, Daisy Day, Ellie Davies, Molly-Mae Reed and Sophia Sparkes

'There is less of a stigma for young women'

One of the current crop of female farmers at Suffolk Rural is Molly-Mae Reed, 17, from Bedfield. Molly-Mae, who is on a level 3 course in agriculture, has farming in her blood.

She said: "My parents have always been interested in farming and have a smallholding, so I've grown up with it. My great grandfather was also a farmer.

"I think there is less stigma for women today – and it seems more equal.

"I've never experienced anything negative (in terms of being a female). My message to other young girls is I think they should go for it, if they want to do it."

'Harriet from Clarkson's Farm is having an impact'

News imageSuffolk New College Daisy has long blonde hair. She is staring at the camera while standing in a barn in front of a sheep pen. To the left of the image a tractor can be seen driving into the barn.Suffolk New College
Daisy Day thinks social media has a role to play in the rise of female farmers

Daisy Day, 17, from Eye in Suffolk is on the same course as Molly – but unlike Molly – she doesn't come from a farming background.

Daisy said: "I used to live in Essex and then moved to the countryside and since then, I've got really involved in agriculture through friends.

"I like the fact that there are so many different pathways – you can go into marketing, sales or general farm work.

"The industry seems more open to females working on farms than they used to be.

"My message to other young girls is that the farming industry needs more people. So - get involved."

Daisy thinks more female role models are helping to open the industry up. She continued: "I like Harriet of Clarkson's Farm – and there are more people on Instagram and TikTok and that is having an impact – if you can see it, you can be it, so they say."

News imageHarriet Cowan of the television series Clarkson's Farm sits in a field with a brown and white collie. She is wearing a dark coloured gilet and pink shirt. Her long blonde hair is blowing in the window. In the background, brown cows are grazing
Daisy thinks Harriet from Clarkson's Farm has helped more young women feel inspired to go into farming

'Women are free to do what they want'

Ellie Davies, 17, from Hoxne, who is also on a level 3 agriculture course, lived on a farm when she was younger.

"My parents are outdoors people. I've been around it most of my life.

"Farming seems to have risen in popularity. It's publicised more and Clarkson's Farm is entertaining and factual.

"I think more females are in farming as times have changed and you are free to do what you want to do."

News imageSuffolk New College Ellie has curly blonde hair tied back. She has a grey hoodie underneath her black overcoat. Behind her in the barn are sheep sitting on strawSuffolk New College
Ellie Davies says young women feel empowered to follow the path they want

'The farming industry is such a community'

The rise in female students has also been replicated in terms of female staff on the Suffolk Rural farm. Three of the main key roles are overseen by women.

Agricultural technician, Sophia Sparkes, said: "My original plan was to go to university to become a genetics consultant at a hospital – but someone from the college came into my school and asked me if I ever thought about doing the same thing with animals – they advised me to get work experience on a farm – so I did – and I've never looked back.

"I love the outdoors – the animals and the whole farming industry is just such a community.

"My message to young girls is – if you love it and you have a passion for it, there will be nothing stopping you and you should absolutely do it."

News imageSuffolk New College Sophia is standing in a barn. She is wearing a dark coat with pink lining visible. Her brown hair is tied back. Behind her, black cattle can be seen standing in their penSuffolk New College
Sophia Sparkes is a teacher on the farming course

'I preferred tractors to horses'

Enya Pearson is an agricultural instructor at Suffolk Rural.

Enya said: "I started at 16 working as a groom – then someone put me on a tractor – harrowing the school – and I preferred that to the horses.

"None of my family were in farming – so I'm the first generation. I'm very much an advocate for inclusivity and I believe anyone can have a go at farming - as long as you have passion and drive.

"I think the rise in social media of women working in farming – and farmer daughters coming through - is having a positive impact."

News imageSuffolk New Colllege Enya in a black coat with white piping on the sleeves crouches down in the straw surrounded by sheep who are all staring at the cameraSuffolk New Colllege
Enya Pearson enjoys driving a tractor
News imageSuffolk New College Abbie stands in front of a large straw bale. She is wearing a dark blue mac with the collar up and a white rugby shirt collar visible underneath. Her hair which is half blonde half brown is tied backSuffolk New College
Abbie Morris, head of land-based studies at Suffolk Rural College, is proud to fly the flag for women in farming

Suffolk Rural has been actively encouraging young women to get into farming by sending female students into schools to advocate for their course since 2022.

Abbie Morris, head of land-based studies at Suffolk Rural College, said the NFU has also been very encouraging to women.

She said: "They are good at encouraging people and opening up the industry to anyone and everyone. There is also a wellbeing side to the industry that is drawing different people to us. Being outside, being surrounded by animals is good for your mental health and more schools have outdoor forest areas where youngsters can learn about nature.

"I really believe going outside can build your resilience and we at Suffolk Rural are delighted to be flying the flag for females in farming – but truth is – whoever you are – if you have a passion for agriculture, we'd love to talk to you."

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