Ribble Valley teenager to feature on 'top young farmer' TV show (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Ribble Valley teenager to feature on 'top young farmer' TV show

10:40am Tuesday 10th January 2012 in Clitheroe By Nafeesa Shan , Reporter

A TEENAGER from East Lancashire has been named one of the most talented young farmers in the country.

Seth Blakey, of Bolton-by-Bowland, is in the running for the title of Young Farmer of the Year as part of a BBC Three series due to be aired later this year.

He is one of four young farmers chosen from across the country to compete.

Seth, whose family have an upland beef and sheep farm in Bolton-by-Bowland, was put through his paces for the show in a number of challenges.

The teenager, who has just completed a National Diploma in Agriculture, had to sort and lead out pigs, sheer sheep, handle cows and calves and was given an interview about farming.

Seth said the grilling given by judges was the toughest part of the show.

Seth, who attended Bowland High School in Clitheroe, said: “I’m chuffed about being on the show. The grilling was hard, the judges were asking me questions and it was like they were trying to trip you up.

“The competition was tough.”

He was put forward for the show after the BBC contacted his tutor Helen Martin to ask if she had any students she would like to nominate for the programme.

Seth said: “I spent three days in Woodbridge in Suffolk taking part in a number of practical agricultural challenges which were followed by eliminations. They also came to Lancashire and filmed at the farm as part of my ‘back story’.

“I met the presenter George Lamb and he was great – really interested in what we were doing and very enthusiastic about the show and its purpose.”

Seth is remaining tight-lipped about the outcome of the show, but feels it will highlight the agriculture industry in a positive way.