Close to farmers:
#ThinkingInGenerations

Farming insider: Emma Foot, UK

Q: Why did you choose the job here at Haywards Farm?

Even as a child I was involved in daily work and sat on the tractor, then I combined what I love—photography and farming. During my A-levels I photographed the farmers here, which showed me this is the life I love: I’d rather harvest in the sunshine than spend a day at the beach.

Q: What makes Haywards Farm special for you?

For me, Haywards Farm is special because it is a generational farm. Our family has worked the land here for generations, and we each have a story to tell that has been passed down.

Q: What agricultural challenges do you see for future generations?

We need to push for sustainability worldwide. The rise in fertiliser and energy prices is a problem, and reducing our carbon footprint will require action. There may be fewer reliable harvests, so food demand could lead to more imports.

Q: What do you wish for Haywards Farm?

I hope the farm stays in the family; it would be wonderful if one day the sixth or seventh generation runs the farm. Hearing about other families who have passed their farms down is an amazing feeling.

About Emma

Emma belongs to the new generation of women-owned farms in the UK. The mother of a young daughter runs the family farm, founded in 1954, in partnership with her dad, Chris. Before that she studied food photography: "The combination of photography and farming is my passion."

Farm facts

Family owned since: 1954

Location: Bere Regis, Dorset, UK

Size of the Farm: about 500 acres arable farm

Crops: Among others, maize, wheat, barley, oilseedrape and oats.

Special features: Father and daughter run the traditional family business together.

It would be great if one day the sixth or seventh generation of our family runs the farm.

Emma Foot, Dorset / Great Britain

Question time

Why did you choose the job here at Haywards Farm?

Even as a child I was involved in the daily work and often sat along on the passenger seat of the tractor. Later, I combined what I enjoy: photography and farming. During my A-levels, I photographed the farmers here. That opened my eyes and I thought, 'This is the life I love. I would take a day harvesting in the sunshine over a day at the beach every time!

What is it like to work in a family business?

I am proud to carry on our family business. My grandparents and my dad did a really good job. I am very lucky to have my dad. If I don't take my little daughter to work myself, he looks after her. Even on a bad day, it's nice to have your family.

What makes Haywards Farm special for you?

For me, Haywards Farm is so special because it is a generational farm. I like the fact that all of us in our family have worked the land here. We all have a story to tell about it that has been passed down through the generations.

What is it like to run a farm as a woman?

Most people treat you like everyone else. But there are still some who make old-fashioned comments. I just ignore them and go on to prove them wrong. I think it's nice that even in the male-dominated field of agriculture, the fact that women in leadership positions are becoming normal. I often have young girls and women message me via social media thanking me for the encouragement and inspiration I give them to continue because they are confronted with similar traditional ideas.

What agricultural challenges do you see for future generations?

We need to put more effort into sustainability worldwide. The increase in fertiliser and energy prices is already a big problem. To reduce our carbon footprint, we need to do something about it. This will be a challenge, that much is certain. In addition, we farmers will have fewer adequate harvests. But because we need the food, we will probably have to import more.

What do you wish for Haywards Farm?

I hope that the farm will always stay in the family. It would be great if one day the sixth or seventh generation of our family runs the farm. When you hear about other families who have passed their farms down from generation to generation, it's just an amazing feeling.

Paving the way. For a fruitful tomorrow.

Farm life is often characterized by family cohesion and traditions that have grown over decades. Around the world, many generations live and work on farms under one roof, and at some point the question of farm succession comes up. Our new Farmer Portraits focus on this generational change that many farmers are facing. Young and old alike - we visited farmers on their farms to have them tell us about their stories, their challenges and their hopes.

A farmer sits on a chair in a barn, wearing a cap and a blue shirt, with farming equipment visible in the background.

Todd, Jared and Cole Vis, USA

“My wish for the future of the family farm is that it will still be run well in the fifth, sixth, and seventh generation.”

A man and a baby are sitting in a blue tractor, surrounded by logs and trees. The scene depicts a rural setting.

Arco Van Triest, Netherlands

“This farm has been running since 1900, and now my children are here.“

A man smiles while holding a young boy on his lap. They are seated outdoors with greenery in the background.

Adem Biçici, Turkey

“When I go out into the fields with my grandson, I see myself reflected in his curiosity.“

Two men examining a leafy plant in a large green field. The landscape features rows of crops under a clear sky.

Brian Ryberg, USA

“I think the feeling of being part of something greater has always been important to me.“

Portrait of a man with a short beard, wearing a black polo shirt with yellow accents, sitting at a wooden table indoors.

Šandor Sabo junior, Croatia

“Whatever problems we are facing, we solve them together. For me, family is all about cohesion.“

A man with glasses sits on a wooden bench in front of a brick wall. A small decorative item is placed on the table beside him.

Atila Sabo, Croatia

“Every morning, my brother and I agree what we want to do during the day, what our duties are. So we share the work and have passed on this structure to our children in the same way.“

A family walks together along a path in a field, surrounded by crops and trees. They wear matching shirts and hats.

Carla, Fábio and José Rossato, Brazil

“I never had any doubts; I never wanted to be anything but a farmer.”

Dimitar sits in an office chair, smiling while wearing a white shirt and green overalls. Papers and a calculator are on the desk.

Dimitar Vukudinov, Bulgaria

”Working with your own father means that you always have a wiser man with you to support you and look up to.”

Portrait of a middle-aged man with short hair, wearing a black shirt, smiling softly against a softly lit background.

Rodolfo Cura, Argentina

“The farm is everything to me. Working in agriculture is the greatest way to do what I love. For me, the farm means freedom.”

Heidi, a farmer from Belgium, sits in a bright room with a bouquet of roses on the table behind her.

Heidi Verschelde, Belgium

"I think the next generation is showing a keen sense for the importance of nature."

A farmer interacts with a wooden gate in a garden, while another person stands behind him near a car.

Ievhenii Bondarchuk, Ukraine

"If you want to be a farmer, you can’t learn that in an institute. It’s something you have to be born with."

A man and a woman smile at each other while holding tomatoes in a greenhouse filled with plants. They appear to be enjoying their time together.

Luigi Torri, Italy

“I hope my sons will pass on the love and respect for the earth and all the values I taught them.”

A hand reaches out to touch ripe wheat stalks in a field. The golden grains are ready for harvest.

Paweł Strzemiecki, Poland

“This love of farming, of the farming tradition, goes back generations in our family.”

A woman with long hair smiles while standing in front of a blue vehicle in a garage setting.

Emma F., UK

“It would be great if one day the sixth or seventh generation of our family runs the farm.“

Aerial view of Rowles Farm, featuring buildings, vehicles, and surrounding green fields. The landscape includes trees and pathways.

Peter Carlisle, UK

“Teamwork is the most important thing on our farm. Everyone does a little bit of everything. If we weren't a team, our business wouldn't be as successful as it is today.“

Young man in a brown hoodie stands in a field with dust clouds from farming equipment in the background.

Henning & Arne Beecken, Germany

“The feeling of wanting to continue the work on the farm has grown day by day since childhood.“

A cornfield with neatly arranged rows stretches towards a distant tree line and houses under a clear blue sky.

Emanuele Bortoli, Italy

“Reliability and respect form the foundation for how we deal with one another. These are values I`ve always held in high esteem.“

Farmer Francis stands beside a blue agricultural machine in a grassy field. The tractor is equipped for planting or cultivating crops.

Francis Bapst, Switzerland

“For me, the most important values are respect for nature, understanding our consumers and food production.”

Hands examining a plant with roots and leaves in a field. The focus is on the interaction between two individuals.

Toni & Daniel Peterhans, Switzerland

”Spirit and passion are what leads to success, whether it's in farming or on the football pitch.”

A child holds hands with an adult in a barn, carrying a small tool. Cows are visible in the background.

Riccardo Casarotto, Italy

”Independence is a dream that we should all cultivate and pursue. Dreams are there to come true and to help you progress.”

A blue tractor is parked near a large brick farm building with multiple roofs and a landscaped area. The setting is rural and well-maintained.

Stephan Jansen, Belgium

”I look forward to waking up every day and being able to work with nature.”

A woman stands in a cornfield, surrounded by tall green plants and a mountainous landscape in the background.

Gizem Anar, Turkey

”People should love what they do, and I love farming. I enjoy looking after animals, plants and nature and try to feel connected to them!.”

A close-up of a calf with an ear tag, surrounded by other cows in a pasture. The calf has a calm expression.

Adrian Knuchel, Switzerland

”For me, team spirit means being able to live and work together. It means ongoing exchange, taking each other, mutual ideas and suggestions seriously.”

A man holds a ginger cat while standing next to a tractor in a farm setting. The scene conveys a connection between the farmer and his pet.

Gürkan Ilhan, Turkey

”People who work in agriculture, cultivating crops, rearing livestock and working on the land, accumulate positive memories day after day.”

Aerial view of a farmhouse surrounded by neatly trimmed hedges and a garden, with a driveway leading to the property.

René Vermue, Netherlands

”Team spirit and reliability are hugely important in both my personal life and my working life – be it with colleagues, employees, or in dealings with other farmers.”