Name: Sam Cassells

County: Kildare

My name is Sam Cassells, from Castledermot County Kildare. We have been farming here for about four generations. We are predominantly tillage with a small number of cattle.

I completed the Level 6 Advanced Certificate in Agriculture Crops and Machinery course at Killdalton college. I wanted to do this course as I was more interested in tillage than livestock farming. The machinery aspect of this course also appealed to me, as we would always be tinkering with some type of machinery at home, whether it be vintage or more modern machines.

I loved the fact that the course was so practical. I also loved the modern new fleet of machinery that Killdalton has, as it is great to learn about new machinery and also be able to compare two machines that are working together simultaneously. The lecturers on this course have so much time to give to each student one-on-one.

The experience you will receive through farm placements, farm trips and just by general practical work in classes in the college will benefit you and stand to you in years to come through which I can definitely relate to the day-to-day running of a farm.

Completing this course has allowed me to receive a Green cert and to have more of a say in the day-to-day running of our farm and also participate in important decision-making. Down the road, I am looking to expand the farming operation.

Teagasc