Emma Clapp 30 Edinburgh
Emma has the covid pandemic to thank for her changing career path to begin farming. She had always had an interest in agriculture but says: “When the pandemic hit I was in a job that I was unhappy with. I knew I needed to make a change and so got in touch with a local farmer with whom I volunteered and learnt new skills.” Emma has clearly not looked back since. Fast forward four years and Emma is now working as head shepherd on a 400-acre Scottish estate managing 1,200 Lleyn cross ewes plus replacements. An achievement that greatly impressed the interview panel. Emma hopes becoming an NSA Next Generation Ambassador programme will be the start of a long relationship with NSA and is looking forward to continuing her learning and development of her career.
Feb/March Update
In February I headed off the farm for a few days to down south for the first of the NSA Next generation delivery sessions, it was great to meet all the other ambassadors at this time and get to know everyone.
The first job on the list after getting back from the NSA Next Generation’s first delivery session was bringing home 450 ewe hoggs for the shearers arriving in a few days time, the shearer had all the hoggs crutched which will help see them through until clipping time later on this year. During the time that they were home they also received their vaccination against clostridial diseases and Pasturella and headed off back to their fields.
It’s been a strange few weeks weather wise and it seems we have had all the seasons in such a short space of time but the glimmers of springtime are definitely showing more now. March should bring some better weather whilst I’m kept busy ensuring all the ewes are getting everything they need to prepare them for lambing – vaccinations, fec counts and setting up the lambing pens are the jobs on the list for this week!
Emma has the covid pandemic to thank for her changing career path to begin farming. She had always had an interest in agriculture but says: “When the pandemic hit I was in a job that I was unhappy with. I knew I needed to make a change and so got in touch with a local farmer with whom I volunteered and learnt new skills.” Emma has clearly not looked back since. Fast forward four years and Emma is now working as head shepherd on a 400-acre Scottish estate managing 1,200 Lleyn cross ewes plus replacements. An achievement that greatly impressed the interview panel. Emma hopes becoming an NSA Next Generation Ambassador programme will be the start of a long relationship with NSA and is looking forward to continuing her learning and development of her career.
Feb/March Update
In February I headed off the farm for a few days to down south for the first of the NSA Next generation delivery sessions, it was great to meet all the other ambassadors at this time and get to know everyone.
The first job on the list after getting back from the NSA Next Generation’s first delivery session was bringing home 450 ewe hoggs for the shearers arriving in a few days time, the shearer had all the hoggs crutched which will help see them through until clipping time later on this year. During the time that they were home they also received their vaccination against clostridial diseases and Pasturella and headed off back to their fields.
It’s been a strange few weeks weather wise and it seems we have had all the seasons in such a short space of time but the glimmers of springtime are definitely showing more now. March should bring some better weather whilst I’m kept busy ensuring all the ewes are getting everything they need to prepare them for lambing – vaccinations, fec counts and setting up the lambing pens are the jobs on the list for this week!
