Farm on the M62: Togetherness at the tractor pulling - Jill Thorp
The power of a social gathering can never be under estimated especially where farmers are concerned. With the summer now behind us and the nights closing in, the markets become the heart of many rural communities, providing not just a place to buy and sell but also a place to have a break. A change of scenery, good meal and most importantly a good chat provides that essential connection for so many people who can sometimes go days on end without seeing or speaking to another person. With the little guy back at school, Paul makes the majority of his market runs alone.
After a series of destroyed wagon seats, stolen lunch and chewed seatbelts, even the dogs must now stay at home. We made a last minute decision at the weekend to head up to a local farm that was hosting the last round of the British Tractor Pulling Association championships. Despite it being a cold and blustery day, the warmth we felt from bumping into friends and having a good chin wag was immeasurable. It was the first tractor pulling competition that the little guy had experienced and needless to say he was well and truly hooked.
The rain stayed away and for a few hours under a dark and brooding sky we soaked up the noise and atmosphere. The great tower of Emley Moor transmitting station loomed above the floodlit dirt track as some of the best tractors put on an epic display. We had, of course to stand tight against the barrier right next to the one hundred metre marker and were frequently engulfed in thick black smoke which as the little guy pointed out was probably very polluting but very cool to see! The deafening roar, the lights, fireworks and sheer excitement made for a great night out made all the better thanks to the company of Yorkshire’s finest farmers.
The general gist from the vast majority of farmers I speak to, of all ages, is the relief and joy at being able to get out and catch up with friends. Whilst many rely heavily on the livestock market to provide them with a much needed break from the farm, it seems many more are actively seeking out social events where they will be with like minded souls. With mental health playing a huge role in our sector, it’s comforting to see so many making the effort to get out and talk.
It would appear that the Scottish National Party has now jumped on the bandwagon of net zero and are threatening their livestock farmers with a major reduction programme in an attempt to meet their idealistic goals. I’ve yet to see a call for a slash in air travel or air-freighted imported food as of course local farming is a far easier target. A trip out to any upland livestock market will give you an idea of how successful and necessary our hill farmers are. Their stock is just a small part of a larger chain of a thriving sector that provides jobs for those living in the more remote communities. The market, the buyers and sellers, feed merchants, livestock hauliers, not to mention the footfall that is brought into the villages and local shops, all of which will most certainly benefit. This isn’t a time to blindly and naively be blaming, accusing and threatening our farmers, most of which will still be here long after these idiots in power are gone.