Damian Barson is a first-generation farmer who began his journey in September 2021, at the age of 50. He had a clear aim: to prove that farming is accessible at any stage of life. Since establishing Tessleymoor Farm, Damian has been recognised for his commitment to promoting British farming, winning the Farmers Guardian’s Farm24 Leading the Field award, for his commitment to promoting farming through digital media, and being named a finalist in the British Farming Awards, in the New Entrant category. Damian is now an ambassador for The Great British Farm-Fest which takes place at NAEC Stoneleigh, 22 – 24 May 2026.

His aim is to challenge the perception that farming is only for those born into it, or those at the very start of their careers. Today, Damian farms Commercial Mules and Cheviot/Mule Gimmers, alongside Hebridean sheep, Highland Cattle and Rare Breed British Primitive Goats.



I didn’t come into farming through family or tradition. I didn’t grow up on a farm, and there was no land waiting for me. But what I did have was a restless working life and a desire to build something meaningful. Growing up in Lancashire, I was born into a normal family, in a normal working environment, but had the choice – do I follow the path of all those around me, or do I forge my own path? At 53, I’ve done a lot of things: advertising, sales, marketing, finance, but agriculture has always had my heart.

I started dog training when I was just 16, running my first classes while most kids my age were still trying to work out what they wanted to do. That early start shaped me – throwing myself in at the deep end.

Dog training eventually became my main career. I specialised in behaviour, gundogs and working dogs, travelling all over the world and building a very successful business. But alongside that work, farming was quietly becoming part of my everyday life. I lived in a barn behind a farm in Lancashire, surrounded by stock, farmers and the rural community. Through gundog training I became involved in conservation, wildlife management and land use, and I started to understand how deeply interconnected farming really is.

The turning point came when I rented land for training. I was spending a small fortune every year keeping it neat and presentable for clients, and it struck me that I could put animals on it instead. Sheep were my first step into farming, initially for practical purposes, but once they arrived, something changed. I wasn’t just maintaining land anymore; I was working with it. I expanded gradually, taking on more stock and more responsibility, running sheep, pigs and goats alongside my dog training business.

An unexpected moment accelerated everything. I bought my beloved sheepdog, Skye, at auction, unknowingly breaking a world record for a sheepdog pup in the process. The story went viral and suddenly I had a platform within farming that I’d never planned for. But publicity aside, farming had already got under my skin. I loved the honesty of it. The routine, the graft, the reality that results come from hard work rather than solely talk.

Farming has become part of my soul because it’s about responsibility, for animals, land and food. I care deeply about what I eat and where it comes from. I’m tired of seeing shelves full of ultra-processed food and people disconnected from how food is produced. When I eat meat I have reared myself, I know the animal’s life, the welfare standards and the journey from field to plate. That sense of accountability is something I value enormously.

My move to Yorkshire was about committing fully to that life. After farming in Lancashire, a friend and I decided to look further afield and eventually settled in the North York Moors National Park. Hill farming here is unforgiving. You’re lucky to get one cut of grass a year, winters are long and isolation is part of the deal. But it’s also incredibly rewarding. I step outside my door every morning to hills, open skies and livestock, and even on the hardest days that reminds me why I chose this path.

Yorkshire has challenged me, but it’s also grounded me. I’ve learned the value of neighbourliness, of helping each other out, of sharing machinery rather than buying everything new. Farming here forces you to be practical, resilient and adaptable.

Looking ahead, I don’t measure success purely in money. I want a farm that works sustainably, with sheep, cattle and grazing systems that manage the land properly. I want to diversify sensibly, bring people onto the farm, and help reconnect communities with farming. Above all, I want to show that farming isn’t just for those born into it. If you’ve got passion, resilience and the willingness to learn, it’s never too late to start.

I am proud to be using my social media channels to communicate this message, and that’s why I feel so honoured to be an ambassador for The Great British Farm-Fest. I feel strongly how important it is to use our voices, as the farming community, responsibly. Farming can be isolating, mentally demanding and misunderstood, especially for those outside the industry. The Great British Farm-Fest will be a space where farming can be celebrated, explained and made accessible to all. I am extremely excited to open the doors, challenge the misconceptions and encourage people from all backgrounds to engage with this incredible and vital industry. And if I inspire anyone to explore their own new career in agriculture, I’ll be pleased as punch!

The Great British Farm-Fest, 22-24 May 2026
NAEC, Stoneleigh Park
Tickets are available now. Prices start from £60 (adult).