Teen Farmer Scoops 'Young Hero' Award

A 14-year-old boy has been honoured with an award for heroism after stepping up to run his family farm following his father’s injury. Archie Steel, from Little Musgrave near Kirkby Stephen in Cumbria, took on the responsibilities when a cow crushed his father’s leg, and another member of staff went on long-term sick leave.

Archie was awarded the Young Farming Hero of the Year at the British Farming Awards for his dedication to caring for the family’s flock of 50 sheep and managing his father’s dairy herd. Despite his achievement, he expressed humility, saying he was “very proud to have won” but didn’t want to “brag about it.”

Balancing his studies for GCSEs with farm duties, Archie has had to make significant decisions and manage the milking parlour. “I’m passionate about cows and the ways you can improve them with genetics in breeding and pedigrees,” he said. Reflecting on his experiences, he added, “It’s good to look back at, but I won’t brag about it.”

When he received the award, Archie described it as “completely unexpected” but felt a strong sense of pride. He aspires to follow in his father’s footsteps in the farming industry, particularly in livestock care.

Archie’s father, Andrew, who has now recovered and returned to work, praised his son’s natural leadership qualities, noting that his drive began at a young age. The British Farming Awards highlighted Archie’s immense responsibilities, which include 5am milking, assisting with vet visits, and managing the day-to-day operations of the farm.

His mother, Ruth Steel, expressed her immense pride in her son’s efforts. “I see how hard he works every single day. He does it all very quietly behind the scenes. He’s quite a humble boy. I just felt it was really nice for it to be recognised.”