Eliza Boyce, Calf & Youngstock Technician

Tell us a little about your background, how long have you been with ForFarmers?

I’ve worked in the dairy farming industry for the last six years at several different farms, including a specialist calf rearing unit where we were rearing up to 1,000 calves. I’ve always loved the industry and as soon as I left school I started working on farms, so while I may not have a particularly academic background, my practical experience helped me secure my role at ForFarmers in 2021.

What does your role as a Calf & Youngstock Technician involve?

Afbeelding: Eliza Boyce calf weighing cropped 3

In my role, I spend a lot of time travelling around farms in Somerset, Dorset, Devon and Cornwall weighing calves and heifers. Day-to-day this means I spend a lot of time driving around with my trailer, but ultimately each day always looks a bit different. As well as calf and heifer weighing, I work with farmers to put together plans and protocols to build on their current calf-rearing practices. This is one of my favourite parts of the job as it’s really satisfying to feel like you’re helping our customers to achieve the best results.

I also run a Target 24 scheme, which aims to help farmers calve down their heifers at 24 months. Ensuring that heifers are performing as well as they can during their first two years is vital to their future success. I’m particularly interested in the costings of why this is important and I like to spend time working through this with my farms.

What do you like about working at ForFarmers?

Every day is always a school day and I love having the opportunity to always be learning something new. Working alongside and shadowing some of my experienced colleagues has given me the chance to really broaden my knowledge of the industry. It’s great to work alongside a team that has so much knowledge to share, and who are always keen to help.

There are also lots of opportunities to challenge yourself and push yourself out of your comfort zone. Taking on this role has made me more ambitious with my career aspirations and has allowed me to develop my skills in a supportive environment.

What is next for your career?

I’m currently training to be a Calf & Youngstock Specialist, which will be the next step up in my career. It’s great to have the opportunity to progress my career at ForFarmers, and to be able to play a role in the future of farming in an area I feel passionate about.

What do you do in your spare time?

I’m the secretary of my local Young Farmers group, which is a lot of fun! I’ve been a member of Young Farmers for about 10 years, and I’ve met some friends for life. I also really like getting involved in country pursuits, walking my cocker spaniel in the Somerset countryside, and horse riding if I get the chance.