Max Smith

• I was approached for the role in august of 2024 by Branthill farms ltd for principal farm worker position after working there whilst I was self employed.
• I undertook the role and sole responsibility for all arable operations on the farm including all cultivations, drilling, ploughing, spraying, maintenance and everything in between. Having responsibility for organising routine servicing with dealerships, parts orders and organising day to day operations with minimal input from employers.

Assisting with the day to day running of a hill farm caring for 400 Scottish blackface ewes and a pedigree herd of 70 beef shorthorns in the Angus glens. performing all livestock and tractor related tasks, grassland management and preparing breeding stock for pedigree shows and sales.

• Whilst self employed I worked across various farms on seasonal basis returning to the same farms year on year covering all aspects of potato production from destoning, irrigation and harvest of potatoes. Additionally doing cereal harvest and cultivations on a different farm year on year.
• Additionally, during this time, I had rented some grazing land and purchased a flock of 60 Lleyn ewes, I grew my flock slightly over the years until I sold the flock to move to Scotland.

• I applied and was successful in attaining the position of apprentice stockperson at Coxford lsb pig farm.
• I attended a 15 month long course in livestock production attending Easton College one day a week and completed my apprenticeship in March 2018.
• As part of my job with I had undertaken all aspects of animal husbandry but also gained a vast experience of tractor, telehandler and equipment operating.
• In addition to my course at Easton College I have successfully undertaken a telehandler course.
• Other aspects of this job include equipment maintenance as well as yard maintenance/ improvements also recording accurate detailed information.
• Working safely as a team or individually is a high priority specifically focusing on all health and safety issues.

• I commenced a foundation year at Thurlow Nunn Standen, Sculthorpe, Fakenham, Norfolk as a Trainee Service Technician supporting the Service Technicians with all areas of their work in the workshop and attending jobs off site at various locations and farms within the locality working on a variety of vehicles and equipment from lawn mowers to tractors (Fendt, Massey Ferguson and Valtra), helping with services and diagnosing faults and cleaning and preparing them for sale.
• I gained a huge amount of experience and particularly enjoyed being given the opportunity to drive a huge variety of farm vehicles.
• I attended Easton College on a week’s block release every six weeks although due to the nature of my employment with Thurlow Nunn Standen (not being on an actual apprenticeship) but having attended the Level 2 Land Based Engineering Course I was unable to gain any formal qualification from my attendance on the course and unfortunately due to the branches relocation they are unable to offer any apprenticeship placements following on from the foundation years employment.