In the UK farming is often seen as a tradition and a way of life passed down through families. More recently, this is beginning to change; applications for agricultural programmes are rising, and they claim that this is partly due to the effect of Clarkson's Farm.
The Royal Agricultural University in Gloucestershire is reporting a phenomenal rise in interest in their rural land management programmes; they are referring to this as the "Clarkson Effect". Clarkson's Farm is an Amazon Prime series which has brought the realities of farming to millions of consumers, who have all seen the challenges and rewards of farming in the UK - it is certainly an eye-opening watch!
What Jeremy Clarkson and co have done is put farming on the national stage. With characters like "Cheerful" Charlie and Kaleb Cooper joining him, viewers can now see that farming is much more than tractors - it is a business, it is a lifestyle, it is a career, requiring brain power, stamina and creativity.
It is not only TV that has played a role. Farmers like Richard Cornock, known as “The Funky Farmer” on YouTube, and others on TikTok are making farming more accessible to audiences far beyond the countryside. Suddenly, farming is something people from all sorts of backgrounds can connect with and explore.
A Break from the Online World
There is also something deeper going on. In a world where many of us spend hours on screens, the idea of working outdoors, putting in real graft, and watching the results of your effort grow is appealing. Farming offers:
A physical connection to the land and the seasons
The satisfaction of seeing crops, animals and projects succeed
A balance to modern life, where progress is often hard to measure
For many, farming also brings a sense of authentic good, with the chance to do something that is wholesome, meaningful and with purpose.
Some realities around farming
For the sake of balance, we all need to mention the realities of farming. We cannot ignore the reality of farming; anyone who has been captured by the Clarkson effect will be conscious that farming is full of barriers. Access to land, finance and housing are usually barriers. In addition, there is a staggering learning curve and hard work involved. Weather, market access, price fluctuations, and regulations can also be unpredictable
Why does this matter to recruitment?
At Agricultural Recruitment Specialists, we are seeing a much greater mix of candidates with varied, non-traditional farming careers who want to get involved in the sector. These individuals bring new ideas and new skill sets, all of which are useful. Our role is to find jobs in the farm sector for these people, whether that is working directly on a farm, in agri-tech, land management, or other areas.
The 'Clarkson Effect' has put farming firmly back on the map. The challenge is to transition that interest into careers that fuel a growing and developing industry for the future.
.jpg)
