“Looking out of the window of my student house here at Warmonderhof, I can see everything that happens in the fields. If I see anything interesting, I just hop on my bike. Because I want to learn and I enjoy being out there. That’s the unique aspect of living, working and learning all in one place. That’s not something you can do at any other agricultural college.”

 “I chose for arable farming, and livestock farming at weekends”

Jonas Heidendal (21) is a third-year student at the time of this interview and has chosen arable farming as his major.
“Today I’m harrowing the potato ridges, to combat the smaller weeds. Driving the tractor in the sunshine for a few hours is fun. I came to Warmonderhof to study animal husbandry. And even though I still like it, I’d heard that integrating livestock farming into your life is very intense. All that milking early in the morning can wear you out. That’s why I chose arable farming as my main subject and I occasionally milk at weekends and also help with ensiling. I also did my external six-month internship at a mixed farm, with dairy sheep, dairy cows and arable farming. So I also worked in both branches there.

“I really wanted to move into a space of my own”

“Living here is great. You get to know each other much better than if you’re just classmates. You’re with your classmates when you’re at home, at work, and when you’re having a beer. With three sisters at home, I was used to sharing a house with a lot of people, so I didn’t need to make a big adjustment. In fact, it’s nice and cosy. And I enjoy being able to live on my own now. I was really ready to move into a space of my own.
“My father and mother both studied at Warmonderhof. They met here twenty-five years ago. For our holidays, we went to friends who owned a cattle farm. As a young lad, I helped pick up cows for milking, and helped out with ensiling and hay-making. And because my sister had also attended Warmonderhof, I didn’t even have to go to an open day. I’d stayed with her a few times, so I knew it inside out.

“Preferably a mixed farm”

“I’ve got some wild plans for the future. A classmate suggested milking cows together in the Swiss Alps. From May to October after we graduate. Another idea is to work on a mixed farm far away from the Netherlands. Canada, for example. But it could also be in Europe, maybe Germany. Initially, I’ll go for salaried employment, but it would be cool and fun to eventually become an independent farmer. Preferably on a mixed farm. That’s hard to run on your own, so you all have to work together.”