Just across the road from the white house Anna-Victoria Sandven-Marholm lives in, there is a farm. A farm she has spent a lot of time on since she was a little girl. There are approximately 170 sheep that she helps with. Both during lambing in the spring and gathering the sheep in the autumn. She loves life with the sheep, and dreams of having her own farm and being a sheep farmer. But she fears that it won’t work. – It will be difficult for me to become a farmer. I have nothing I can take over. It is expensive to acquire a farm and animals, says Sandven-Marholm. Anna-Victoria Sandven-Marholm hopes that the economy will not put an end to her dream as a sheep farmer. Photo: Annabelle Kårvåg Sørensen / news Few farms put up for sale From 2010 to 2020, 7,911 farms have been shut down in Norway. Anna-Victoria’s parents do not have a farm. If her dream of becoming a sheep farmer is to come true, she will have to buy or build her own. For those who do not have a farm to inherit, it is difficult to realize their desire to become a farmer. In 2021, there was a large decline in agriculture that was put out and sold on the free market, according to Statistics Norway. The vast majority of agricultural properties were sold in the gift category, which mostly means that the agricultural property goes to someone else in the family. – I may have to find a man then, who owns a farm. It becomes almost a requirement, says Sandven-Marholm. – I think Anna-Victoria has the qualities needed to be in this profession, says farm owner Johan Øvrebust. Photo: Annabelle Kårvåg Sørensen / news – A certain “old age” For many years she has helped on the neighboring farm, which Johan Øvrebust owns. He is delighted with her help and interest in agriculture. – First of all, it is very positive that we have young people who want to become farmers. There has been poor recruitment into the profession for many years. But it is clear that she is skeptical. I understand that well. Because the economy is no better than it should be. Johan Øvrebust hopes many more young people will become farmers in the coming years. Photo: Annabelle Kårvåg Sørensen / news He points out that there are few young farmers in Stordal in Sunnmøre. – There is a certain “aging”. I’m basically the youngest person, and I’ll be 50 in February. We need recruitment to the highest degree, says Øvrebust. Some of the sheep in the barn in Stordal. Photo: Annabelle Kårvåg Sørensen / news – Too high average age Konrad Kongshaug, leader of Møre and Romsdal farmers’ association, says it is incredibly important that more young people become farmers. – The average age among farmers is high. It is far too high. That says something about the recruitment. We are completely dependent on getting new people into the industry, says Kongshaug. – In the generations before us, it was like that you were almost frowned upon within the family if you didn’t take over the farm. That time is over, says leader of the Møre og Romsdal farmers association, Konrad Kongshaug. Photo: Eirik Haukenes / news He points out that it is expensive to run a farm, and that the wages are low. But he wants to do something about it. – I want to tell Anna-Victoria that she must keep her motivation up. By the time she is old enough to start up, I am sure that we as a farmers’ association organization will be able to raise her income so much that she will be able to become a farmer the day she is old enough. She wants that too. – I hope I will become a farmer. But it’s hard to know when you don’t already have a farm that you can take over, says Sandven-Marholm. Anna-Victoria Sandven-Marholm says it is difficult when she does not have a farm she can take over. Photo: Annabelle Kårvåg Sørensen / news
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Anna-Victoria (14) wants to become a farmer, but is afraid it won’t work
