At 27, Billy Buckingham brings a youthful perspective to the DemoDAIRY Foundation board.
Billy is an active member of the Young Dairy Network (YDN), has attended A.I courses and conferences on the future of the dairy industry, has been to New Zealand on a DDF-funded study tour, and is part of the local discussion group.
The third-generation farmer at Jancourt East works alongside his father Mark and uncle Michael who milk 400 mixed cows in partnership. Billy worked off-farm for seven years, bringing different perspectives to his approach to dairy farming when he returned to the business in 2021.
Billy is keen to help organise events and get more young people actively involved in the dairy industry, and appreciates the value of seeing different systems and practices on other farms.
“I love the versatility of farming,” he says. “I’m the only staff member apart from my father and uncle who run the farm so you have to be a jack of all trades.”