An 11-year-old boy from England who is determined to become a farmer rents his land, breeds sheep, and has even taught himself to spin their wool.
Joe Trofer-Cook’s interest in farming was sparked after his grandfather, Pete Cook, 74, retired and built a planter in the garden in his village of Billinghay, Lincolnshire, for him to grow potatoes, in April 2019.
When the lockdown hit in March 2020, the little boy bought a few packets of seeds to grow vegetables.
He then began selling homegrown produce in a trolley at the front of his house in his village in Billinghay, Lincolnshire. He saved every penny, then bought three chickens.
During this time, the little boy was diagnosed with autism, and his mother, Clare Trofer, 47, noticed how Joe’s new hobby became the “best form of therapy.”
“Neighbors came regularly to buy his produce which was local and homegrown,” Ms. Trofer, a cleaner said. “I think people found it safer than going to the shops during Covid.”
As he continued to save more money, Joe was able to buy his first ewes—female sheep—which cost him about 80-pound sterling (US$102) each.
Soon enough, he was able to buy a ram—a male sheep—named Basil. In spring 2021, Joe welcomed his first set of lambs. The following year, he sold the lambs to afford a second-hand sheep trailer and bought two new ewes—Parsley and Parsnip.
“Joe went to a farmer’s market and bid on another ewe, called Butterbean,” Ms. Trofer said. “She didn’t have any lambs, so Joe used his trailer to take her to show her at country shows.
“He got through to the Championships—it just shows how resourceful he is.”
In November of that year, Joe was gifted two calves that he hand-rears, called Rosie and Flower, by the Channel 5 TV show “Christmas on the Farm”.
With the profit he made from selling vegetables and sheep, Joe was also able to rent a plot of land from a farmer in his village in Billinghay, Lincolnshire.
Two years on, Joe currently owns 37 sheep, 12 chickens, two cows, and a Border Collie, Spud—that was recently adopted.
Spud, according to Joe’s mother, has done wonders for the pre-teen’s anxiety.
“Nighttime is hard for Joe due to his anxiety, but Spud helps comfort him when he struggles to sleep,” she said.
Joe, who is really devoted to caring for his animals, wakes up at 4 a.m. each day to feed them before going to school.
According to his mom, he has never asked to have friends over after school, all he wants to do is go straight to his animals.
The little boy has been determined to grow his “farm” and has been finding ways to make more money. He was donated a spinning wheel by Ms. Trofer’s colleague and a local resident has taught him how to use it to spin his own wool from his sheep.
Joe now sells wool, eggs, and vegetables at local markets. He has been attending regular county fairs to show his sheep and chickens.
“Now he’s the youngest exhibitor at the Lincolnshire show with his sheep in the 125 years it’s been running,“ Ms. Trofer said. ”He saved up for a camera to watch the sheep during lambing season and a special tunnel to house them in called a polytunnel.”
His mom has helped him by setting up a Facebook page called “Joe’s Garden Patch,” which has amassed 1,800 followers.
Joe lives at home along with his dad, Adam, 45, a shot blaster and sprayer, and his two little brothers, Stan, 6, and Ernie, 5.
“His brothers really look up to him,” Ms. Trofer said. “They’re following his footsteps and all three of them are in a show ring this year at a county fair.”
Ms. Trofer who describes Joe as “the kindest, loveliest, and quietest child,” believes he works harder than most full-grown men.
“Most children are born into this world of farming, but this is something he’s built for himself,“ his mom said. ”We’re so proud of Joe and I know he'll own his own farm one day.
