I STARTED off at the Farm Crisis Network (as it was back then) in 1996. I realised that livestock farming was a real challenge on its own to bring in enough income for our family and so I ventured out for extra income as a livestock buying agent for various slaughterhouses.

In 1996, there was a lot of stress amongst the farming community after the outbreak of BSE. I have a strong Christian faith and it inspired me to help our farming family, so I joined FCN.

We ticked along with a number of cases in Devon and the south west, but when the foot and mouth outbreak happened in 2001, things expanded rapidly and so I ended up giving a lot more of my time to the organisation.

In 2005/6, there was a big increase in calls to FCN after the introduction of the Single Payment Scheme, which was based on the area of land rather than the crop produced. There were delays with payments and so a lot of people called us for help and support. This, as well as the foot and mouth outbreak, was the biggest level of cases the FCN has ever seen.

I became regional director of the charity in 2007, and I also had the responsibility of being the TB and RPA lead which meant monthly travels to London. My role is to oversea and support the work of the regional support officers and county teams.

Life happens, and I very much doubt there will be a time when farming isn’t facing some challenge or another. Most of our volunteers have faced real challenges and come out the other side – I think there is hope for the future of farming and it is great to see the younger generation stepping up to more responsible roles (when they are allowed!)

You never know what you’re going to meet at the end of the farm lane, my faith is what gives me the strength to face the challenge. It is a privilege to sit alongside people and help them to find out what options they have, whilst allowing them to choose the direction they want to take.