Volunteer … that’s the advice Kaleb Cooper had for young farmers looking to land their first job in the industry.
Speaking at Cereals Event 2026, the farm contractor and TV celebrity told a packed audience of young farmers that volunteering could be the best way to kickstart their careers.
He said: “If a young farmer knocks on your door and says can I have a job, you're going to say no, because straight away you worry about how you're going to pay that person.
“And then, all of a sudden, you worry about health and safety and having enough time to teach that young student.
“But actually, if you go out there as a young farmer and just ask to volunteer, the farmer will go okay.
“At the end of the week that farmer will give you maybe some eggs, maybe some milk, maybe a little bit of money if you're really lucky.
“And therefore, that's your way in, just volunteering.”
Kaleb, who on top of his television commitments runs a successful contracting business, added young farmers should start small if setting up on their own.
“I started with a Case International 1394,” he said.
“Now, I started small to get myself to eight tractors, which is where I am now.
“Don't go and get a finance plan. Don't get stuck in this little hole where you want a big tractor and a new tractor because it's all amazing.
“Get something with a little manual lever. Get something that you can potentially fix yourself as you can't afford someone else to fix it for you.
“Start small to get big. It'll happen one day. You've just got to have that one thing in your head and that is dreams don’t work unless you do.”
Kaleb was joined on the Young Farmers Stage by Jack Saunders, Chairman of the Oxfordshire Federation of Young Farmers and Craig Thackaberry, Agricultural Sales Manager at ZenaDrone.
