Tributes are pouring in for a popular farmer who appeared on BBC's Countryfile as his death is confirmed. Frank Carr, a fourth-generation farmer, was a familiar face on the BBC and also appeared on BBC One among other media appearances to speak about issues facing the industry. He has sadly died at the age of 35.
Frank was the fourth generation to take on his family farm, Lee Gate Farm in Malhamdale, North Yorkshire, which he ran alongside his dad, Frank Senior. He was described as the "very best of the next generation" of farmers, The Mirror reports.
Final episode aired in August
In his last episode, aired in August, he told viewers about the modern challenges of running a farm and how he came to acquire the business. Frank explained: "When I was younger and I saw how restricted it was, I was adamant that [farming] was not going to be the life for me."
"I went travelling for a good while - about two and a half years. Asia for about a year, South America, Europe, here there and everywhere. When my parents got divorced and my father and uncle were deciding what would happen to its future, we realised I was the only one who had any interest in it, so it was sort of a yes or no."
He continued: "In farming everyday is an opportunity to learn. Farming is a very rewarding profession although it can be very challenging mentally, it can also be very rewarding so that's another reason why I love what I do."
Tributes from Farmers Guardian
But he added: "At the end of the day farming is a business so the financial aspect is always an issue. There's no real clarity on the future, especially for hill farms."
Frank passed away on September 25, with his death made public by respected trade paper Farmers Guardian this week. A statement on social media read: "We are deeply saddened by the death of North Yorkshire hill farmer Frank Carr, aged 35. Frank was a familiar face to Farmers Guardian readers and someone we were fortunate to work with many times over the years."
"From sharing the realities of farming more than 2,000 acres in the Yorkshire Dales to supporting #Farm24 and taking part in our Next Generation Hill Farmers series, Frank was passionate about his family, his livestock and the future of hill farming."
Farmers Guardian editor Katie Jones said: "Frank will be remembered not only as a talented young farmer but as someone who represented the very best of the next generation - committed to his family, his livestock, his land and the future of British farming."
