TWO lucky Royal Agricultural University students enjoyed an afternoon with Kaleb Cooper, who shot to fame after the release of popular Prime Video series Clarkson's Farm, yesterday.

Caitlyn Bartlett and Caitlin Oxton joined Kaleb at the Cirencester Livestock Market on Tuesday, December 5 to help him buy two calves – which will join the herd at his farm near Chipping Norton in Oxfordshire - before enjoying a lunch at nearby Mole Valley Farmers.

The two girls are the inaugural winners of the RAU’s Kaleb Cooper Agriculture Bursary.

The bursary, which was open to RAU undergraduate agriculture students, will provide Caitlyn and Caitlin with a £3,000 payment as well as the opportunity for a work placement with either Kaleb himself or one of his industry partners.

Mr Cooper was keen to encourage applicants who are not from a farming/agricultural background and those who can demonstrate hardship or financial need.
 
Speaking after the event he said: “It’s really exciting to have Caitlyn and Caitlin with me - to introduce them to their first cattle market and actually buy their first cattle.
 
“I didn’t start bidding on cattle until I was 24 because I didn’t have the confidence.

"If I can give them the confidence at 19 and 20 then that’s what investing in people and future farming generations is all about.  

"And this is just the start for them – and I hope they enjoy farming as much as I do!”
 
Caitlyn Bartlett, aged 19, comes from the village of Brothertoft near Boston in Lincolnshire and is in her first year of a BSc in Agriculture at the Cirencester-based university.
 
She said: “I bid for one of the calves and won which was really exciting. 

“Coming from a non-farming background, it can be challenging to enter an industry that is often based on what contacts you have so I was really pleased to have been selected as one of the bursary winners.
 
“This bursary will not only help me to gain further vital industry experience and knowledge through the work placement with Kaleb himself but will really help open up many different opportunities for me in the future within the agricultural sector.”
 
Caitlin Oxton, aged 20, from Clifton in Bedfordshire, is in her second year studying for a BSc Hons in Applied Farm Management at the RAU having previously studied at Shuttleworth Agricultural College.
 
She said: “I’ve been to a livestock market before but only to help with the selling - I’ve never done any bidding.

"It was a little bit scary but really exciting that he trusted us both to bid. 
 
“I am delighted to have been selected as one of the winners of Kaleb’s bursary.

"Prior to enrolling at Shuttleworth, I had no direct experience in agriculture but completing that course, and now studying for my degree at the RAU, has really made me realise that this is the industry I want to work in.”