Brooklyn Collocott
The future of farming.
Regenerative farming practices.
Promoting, inspiring, and encouraging young farmers.
While visiting my friend’s farm, I had the pleasure of meeting Brooklyn for the first time. With skill, confidence, and joy, she moved sheep from paddock to paddock. We had a great conversation about farming, school, and her future plans. Through the sparkle in her eye, I could see her genuine passion and love for farming.
A few weeks ago, during the girls’ afternoon tea, I took the opportunity to do a mini interview with Brooklyn and her mother. Let me take you through this series of “Young Farmer Australia”, where we talk about Brooklyn’s time as a young teen farmer practicing regenerative agriculture.
- Introduction and Brooklyn’s background
Brooklyn is currently attending middle school as a year nine student, she is a young teenager in a family of 4. She and her family moved to South Gippsland a few years ago from a Melbourne suburb. Not coming from an agricultural background, both of her parents developed a strong interest in farming as they settled into their 3 acres, and so did Brooklyn. During school weekends, Brooklyn is always on a sheep farm lending a hand.
Before moving to their hobby farm in Gippsland, she did not appreciate the importance of soil health. It was a gradual learning process for her to recognize the importance of healthy soil to regenerative farming techniques.
- Challenges encountered while practicing farming
Brooklyn, a young farmer herself said she had trouble identifying what challenges faced her on a day-to-day basis. But she suggests that “sheep themselves are a challenge to her – sheep are quite capable of doing the exact opposite of our will. If you want them to go one way, they will bolt the other way.” Brooklyn suggests that once you get to know the sheep and how they think (or don’t think), it gets a lot easier to work with them.
- What did you learn from farming in comparison to school education?
The farms that Brooklyn has worked on provide valuable lessons about regenerative agriculture and sustainable farming. Different from the conventional way to practice agriculture, hands-on knowledge in soil care, rotational grazing, and the fundamental nourishment of the land and animals are essential to organic and regenerative farming.
In comparison to school education, Brooklyn suggests that there is a lack of agricultural education being delivered to students. Food is a fundamental part of our lives, the school system does not dedicate the curriculum that puts emphasis on how to grow food and raise the animals properly.
- What are you up to recently with the farm work?
Brooklyn has been busy preparing for the Junior Sheep Handler competition in Ballarat this June. Prepping the sheep consists of cleaning, brushing, and training. In July, Brooklyn is so excited to attend the Sheep and Wool Show in Bendigo!
- Tell us a bit about your social media
Brooklyn created the Instagram page – “Young Farmers Australia” with the intention to help promote agriculture to young people. Through Instagram, Brooklyn shares her experiences in regenerative agriculture, and hopes to learn more and share what she knows about regenerative farming!
Thank you for joining me for this Interview with Brooklyn, make sure to check out her Instagram page – “Young Farmers Australia”. I look forward to having more insightful conversations about farming life with you dear readers.
Have a great day!
Christine