Farmers Guardian: Can you tell us a bit about yourself and the farm?听
Amy:听I'm听Amy Eggleston, a dairy farmer from Leicestershire. This is our family farm near Melton Mowbray, where we milk 600 cows and supply听all of听our milk to a Long Clawson Dairy.听My family has been farming here for over 100 years, alongside my brother we are fifth generation, and my son听represents听the sixth.听
FG: Who do you farm with?听
Amy:听I farm alongside my brother and my dad, so it really is a full family operation.听We've听supplied milk to the same dairy for more than a century, which is something听we're听very proud听of.听
FG: What does a typical day look like on the farm?听
Amy:听It's听a bit more varied these days as听I've听got听a听20-month-old, so mornings听don't听start quite as early as they once did. The cows are milked twice a day, and usually the first milking has already happened by the time I arrive. The rest of the day before afternoon milking is taken up with jobs like fencing, fixing water troughs, measuring grass -听essentially anything听that involves looking after the cows. The second milking is at 2pm, so most of the day revolves around that routine.听
FG: Can you describe your farming system?听
Amy:听We're听a spring-calving unit based on a New Zealand-style grazing system. The aim is to have cows out grazing for as much of the year as possible. Ideally,听they're听out from February through to November, although soil conditions听don't听always allow that. We keep things fairly听simple,听There's听no fancy technology or big machinery. We focus on investing in the cows and keeping the system straightforward.听
FG:听You're听a听Kaiwaka听ambassador 鈥� how long have you been wearing the kit?听
Amy:听I started wearing听Kaiwaka听around seven or eight years ago, when I came home to farm. For dairy farming, bib and brace waterproofs are something I wear every single day. Whether听you're听scraping out or working in the parlour, you need something that keeps you dry and clean.听
FG: What features matter most to you in waterproof workwear?听
Amy:听Little things听make听a big difference. The cuffs on the coat are great for milking because water听doesn't听run down your sleeves 鈥� which is incredibly annoying.听I've听also noticed improvements in the newer kit, like听heavier-duty听buckles on the bib and braces and magnetic fastenings on the coat, which are much easier to use when听you're听busy.听
FG: How do you usually layer up for work?听
Amy:听In winter听I'll听wear warm leggings under my bib and braces, with a jumper and waterproof coat on top. In summer it might just be shorts or trousers underneath. The waterproofs are something I rely on year-round.听
FG: Do you have any advice on caring for waterproof clothing?听
Amy:听Definitely be听careful how you wash them. I often get messages from people saying their waterproofs听don't听last, and I think听it's听usually because听they've听been washed too hot. Stick to low temperatures,听or even just clean the dirtiest areas by hand. They听don't听need washing as often as people think.听
FG:听What's听coming up next on farm?听
Amy:听I'm听expecting my second baby in the spring, which will make things busier again. On the farming side,听we'll听be calving 600 cows between February and April, with more than 400 calving in the first four weeks. February will be full-on, but听that's听when the farming year really starts again.听
FG:听You're听also active on social media 鈥� what made you start sharing farm life online?听
Amy:听I went to university and did a non-farming degree, and my friends were amazed by even the most basic day-to-day farming jobs. I started sharing what I did to show them what it was really like, and it grew from there. Now, I enjoy showing the care that goes into farming 365 days a year, and how听I've听adapted to family life alongside working on the farm. You can find me on Instagram as听.听
FG: Finally, how do you see your role as part of听Kaiwaka听rebrand campaign?听
Amy:听It's听about showing real farming life as it is 鈥� practical,听honest听and constantly evolving. Even with new branding and updated kit, what matters most is that it still works on farm every day.听That's听what听I'll听keep reaching for in the morning.听
In association with Kaiwaka
