In this episode of Meet the Farmers, Ben speaks with Charlotte Ashley, dairy farmer and 'countryside content creator' based in Cumbria. Charlotte shares her journey from a non-farming background to becoming a dairy farmer. She discusses the challenges and learning curves of transitioning to dairy farming, the importance of social media in bridging the rural-urban divide, and her opinions on the term 'influencer'. The conversation also touches on the current challenges in the dairy industry and Charlotte's aspirations for the future of her farm.
In this episode of Meet the Farmers, Ben sits down with Charlotte Ashley, a farmer, podcaster, and prominent countryside content creator, who shares her journey into farming, farming life today, and the power of social media to bridge the gap between rural and urban communities. We’ll also dive into Charlotte’s role as a content creator and her thoughts on the “influencer” label, as well as her podcasting journey with Rebecca Wilson.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Charlotte Ashley and Her Journey
04:06 Transitioning to Dairy Farming
11:50 Life Before Farming: A Personal Reflection
17:47 The Shift to Robot Milking Systems
23:50 Learning Curve in Dairy Farming
29:28 Advice for New Entrants in Dairy Farming
32:25 The Journey to Becoming Graham's Dairy Farmers
35:56 Defining the Role: Farmer vs Influencer
46:40 The Evolution of Podcasting and Storytelling
52:35 Navigating the Challenges of Dairy Farming
58:18 Reflections and Messages for the Future
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About Ben and RuralPod Media
Ben Eagle is the founder and Head of Podcasts at RuralPod Media, a specialist rural podcast production agency. You can find out more at ruralpodmedia.co.uk or benjamineagle.co.uk
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Image credit: Charlotte Ashley