• Place you call home: Downpatrick
• Occupation: I am an administrator with Alexander Reid & Frazer, a long- established property agency based in Downpatrick, a member of the Northern Ireland Rural Valuers Association and Agricultural Law Association. I also serve as a director of the Downpatrick Livestock Market and milk record for Dale Farm.
• Farming commodity:
My farming enterprise is a spring-calving suckler beef system based on a herd of around 50 cows, a mix of Charolais and Hereford. The herd are out all year and are mainly grass-based, with cows and calves grazing for most of the year. Silage is made on the farm for winter feeding and concentrate use is kept to a minimum, mainly for young stock when needed.
Calves are weaned in the autumn.
• How did you become involved in farming?
Farming has been in my family for generations. My grandfather began farming the farm I am on in 1900, and my father was born here. When my grandfather passed, his son Jim and daughter Veronica carried on the farm, just as he had. I still remember my uncle giving me my first calf to raise on my own (without supervision). She was spoilt rotten, she loved bananas and was nicknamed the “banana calf”. She lived over 20 years and was more like a pet dog. After my uncle passed away, my father wanted the farm to continue and I stepped in. As the third J. Ritchie to farm this land, I’m proud to not forget the ones that were before me and the generations of hard work.
• Earliest farming memory:
Walking into the kitchen, my aunt was cooking something in the oven and down in the warming compartment of the oven, there were two living lambs. As a young child I remember being horrified until it was explained to me that they were being kept warm.
• What personal characteristics did you develop from agriculture?
It taught me patience, because I learned that not everything happens right away and that real results take time. Agriculture also pushed me to develop a strong work ethic, especially on days when the work was tiring or the conditions weren’t ideal. I learned how to adapt and problem-solve when things didn’t go as planned which usually happens on a farm! You need to have a lot of back up plans!!
• Life lesson you learnt from farming:
Farming taught me respect for nature and everything that comes with it! And that effort and consistency matter more than speed. Success doesn’t happen overnight -you show up every day, do the work and trust the process even when results aren’t visible. Growth is often quiet and unseen, but farming reminded me that if you stay patient, keep showing up and believe in what you’re doing, good things will come.
• What do you enjoy most about the farming lifestyle?
What I enjoy most about farming is the peace and purpose it brings. Being out on the land, surrounded by nature, keeps me grounded and reminds me to slow down and appreciate the small things. Watching new life arrive each season, never gets old and makes the hard days worth it. Farming isn’t about rushing; it’s about showing up every day, doing the work and trusting the process. The quiet mornings, fresh air and connection to the land make it all meaningful. Farming also teaches me gratitude. Every sunrise, every harvest, every healthy animal and every small success feels earned and meaningful. Farming reminds me where my food comes from, how fragile life can be and how powerful dedication and consistency truly are.
• Describe a farmer in three words:
Adaptable, steadfast and optimistic.
• What would you like the public to know about Northern Ireland farming?
Farming in Northern Ireland is built on dedication, resilience and genuine care for the land and livestock. Our farmers produce exceptional local food to the highest standards of welfare and sustainability, often working long hours in all weather with little recognition. They don’t farm just for profit, but with pride, tradition and responsibility to future generations. Greater understanding of this matters because without farmers, we would quite simply be hungry, naked and sober.
• If you could give farmers/farming families/farming community one piece of advice, what would it be?
My advice to farmers, farming families and the wider farming community would be to look after yourselves as much as you look after your land and livestock. Farming can be demanding, isolating and emotionally heavy at times.
Your wellbeing matters just as much as the work you do.
Don’t be afraid to ask for help, talk openly or take time to rest when you need it. Farmers know firsthand the fragility of life so look after your own and most importantly….where there is life there is hope.
• What would you say to others who are considering a career in the agriculture industry?
I would say that a career in agriculture is challenging, but incredibly rewarding. It’s not always easy and it requires commitment, patience and resilience, but the sense of purpose it gives you is unlike any other.
Agriculture is not just a career – it is an education in itself, teaching responsibility, resilience and respect for life in ways no classroom ever could. Although my academic background is in corporate governance and I have recently finished studying law at Queens, it is farming that has taught me the most.
Farming is a wonderful lifelong career in its own right, but it can also grow alongside other passions and professions. Agriculture is flexible and evolving, allowing you to shape a future that suits your goals and passions, and a career in agriculture can complement and support a wide range of professional ambitions.
• What are your hopes for the future of Northern Ireland’s agriculture industry?
My hope for the future of Northern Ireland’s agriculture industry is that it continues to be valued, supported and understood by both the wider public and government. I hope farmers are fairly rewarded for their hard work, that younger generations feel encouraged and confident to remain in the industry, and that more young women see agriculture as a place where they belong and can lead.
I also hope agriculture continues to move forward sustainably, protecting the environment while supporting strong, family-run farms. Above all, I hope the future gives farming families security and pride, allowing agriculture to remain a respected and enduring way of life for generations to come.
