CLARKSON’S FARM STAR helps turn FARMING DREAM into reality with £3,000 bursary boost.

Kaleb Cooper, one of the standout stars of Clarkson’s Farm, has once again stepped beyond the television spotlight to make a real-world impact in the agricultural community — helping two young students take a significant step forward in their farming futures through his annual bursary programme.

The 23-year-old farmer, widely recognised for his straight-talking personality and hands-on expertise on Prime Video’s hit series, has awarded two new recipients as part of the 2025/2026 RAU Kaleb Cooper Agriculture Bursary. The initiative, run in partnership with the Royal Agricultural University (RAU), continues to support aspiring farmers who are entering the industry from a variety of backgrounds.

This year’s recipients, Robyn Sherriff, 23, and Isaac Covington, 19, were selected from a competitive pool of applicants. Isaac, from Cherhill near Calne in Wiltshire, and Robyn, who has now returned to her family farm in Zambia, represent the fifth and sixth students to benefit from the programme since its launch in 2023.

A GROWING INITIATIVE WITH REAL IMPACT

What began as a personal ambition by Kaleb Cooper to support one student per year has now expanded into a dual-bursary scheme. The programme currently offers two annual bursaries — one funded directly by Cooper and another supported by the Elizabeth Creak Charitable Trust, which works closely with RAU.

Each bursary provides £3,000 in financial support, alongside an additional opportunity for recipients to apply for a work placement with Cooper himself or one of his industry partners. For students entering agriculture, this combination of funding and experience can be a critical stepping stone into the profession.

Speaking at the Cereals event held near Jeremy Clarkson’s Diddly Squat Farm in Chipping Norton on June 10, Cooper reflected on the importance of the initiative.

“Today is a special day,” he said. “I’m so happy that we’re now in our third year of awarding this bursary to yet more truly deserving students.”

He added that the idea originally stemmed from his own early experiences in farming. “What started out as an ambition to help one person a year quickly grew to two a year. I can’t tell you how much of a difference something like this would have made to me when I decided to go into farming.”

SUPPORTING THE NEXT GENERATION OF FARMERS

Cooper also emphasised the importance of encouraging young people from all backgrounds to enter agriculture, regardless of whether they come from farming families.

“We have to keep fresh, hard-working, talented young people entering this industry – whatever their background,” he said. “Celebrating ambition, skills, and creativity from all walks of life is something I truly believe farming and agriculture can do brilliantly.”

His comments reflect a wider concern within the UK agricultural sector, where attracting new talent has become increasingly important as the industry faces labour shortages, rising costs, and changing economic pressures.

For many observers, Cooper’s bursary scheme represents more than financial assistance — it is a symbolic bridge between modern farming culture and the next generation of agricultural professionals.

MEET THE RECIPIENTS

Among this year’s recipients, Isaac Covington’s story highlights how passion for farming can emerge from outside traditional agricultural backgrounds. Despite not being raised on a farm — with parents working in IT and the arts — Isaac developed an early interest in machinery and livestock through agricultural shows and Open Farm Sunday events.

“I just loved the idea of working with animals and machinery,” he explained.

The bursary will allow him to invest directly in his future plans. Isaac intends to purchase Aberdeen Angus beef calves, which he will raise at a smallholding in his village.

“A bit like Kaleb, who started out with a few chickens, my dream is to have my own farm or smallholding,” he said. “This bursary means I can now afford to buy some cows, which are a bit bigger than the animals I would have been able to afford without it.”

For Isaac, the funding is not just financial support — it is a practical launchpad into livestock farming and long-term agricultural independence.

A DIFFERENT PATH FOR ROBYN SHERRIFF

The second recipient, Robyn Sherriff, has taken a more international route in her agricultural journey. After completing a foundation degree in Agricultural and Farm Management at RAU, she is now continuing her studies with a BSc (Hons) Agri-Management top-up programme.

Originally juggling multiple part-time jobs to fund her education, the bursary has significantly eased her financial pressure, allowing her to reduce her workload and focus more on her studies.

Now back working on her parents’ farm in Zambia, Robyn says the bursary has provided both practical and personal relief. In addition to easing financial strain, it has also enabled her to purchase a vehicle, improving her mobility while balancing study and farm responsibilities.

BEYOND TELEVISION SUCCESS

Although Kaleb Cooper’s fame has grown significantly through Clarkson’s Farm, his involvement in initiatives like the RAU bursary highlights a deeper commitment to agriculture beyond television entertainment.

The programme reflects a growing effort to invest in the future of British farming by supporting young talent at a critical stage in their careers. For Cooper, the initiative is closely tied to his own journey from a young farm worker to a nationally recognised agricultural figure.

“I hope that seeing how much of an impact it can have on these young students, and the wider industry, will encourage more people to get involved and start contributing to these bursaries,” he said.

A LASTING LEGACY IN AGRICULTURE

As the bursary enters its third year, its impact is becoming increasingly visible — not only in the careers of its recipients but also in the broader conversation about youth participation in agriculture.

For Kaleb Cooper, the initiative represents an extension of his identity as a farmer first and television personality second. While Clarkson’s Farm continues to bring entertainment and global attention to rural life, programmes like this ensure that the real-world future of farming remains firmly supported.

With two more students now given a tangible start in the industry, the bursary continues to grow into something larger than its original intention — a developing legacy aimed at shaping the next generation of farmers in the UK and beyond.