There’s never a dull moment for farming couple Reuben Owen and Jess Ellwood, and the pair have their hands full more than ever thanks to a very cute – and fluffy – new arrival
Everyone’s favourite young farmers Reuben Owen and Jess Ellwood have officially moved in together – but already, there are three in their relationship. Fluff, the other ‘woman’ in both their lives, is an irresistible three week old lamb. Jess says: “We have a new pet. This is Fluff. She’s quite precious. Lambing can be tough… lots can go wrong.
“When Fluff was born, her mum accidentally stood on her leg and it broke. So, we’ve taken her in and she’s going to be our pet sheep now – she’ll live with us forever. She’s even been in the house, sleeping on a blanket. Nana was quite attached to the turkeys, which we reared last year to be eaten at Christmas, but you can’t cuddle them like you do a lamb!”
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Like Jess, Reuben is smitten with Fluff. He says: “Our first pet, although she’s more like our child the way we look after her. She’s so cute. When she sees Jess her little face absolutely lights up. She’s starting to get to know her name now too.” From baby lambs with broken legs to all manor of farming catastrophes, there’s never a dull moment for the young farmers.
Reuben says: “We were trying to catch a sheep together recently and managed to corner it. Then we both went for it at the same time and crashed into each other, flying head over heels and falling in a heap. Neither of us got the sheep. The sheep got away. I’m sure I saw it smiling.”
The stars of Channel 5’s Reuben Owen: Life in the Dales, Reuben, and Jess , both 22, met at a Young Farmers’ convention in 2024 – going public with their romance that November. Now Reuben, who grew up down the road in Swaledale, is delighted to be living at Jess’ family farm at Brough Castle, Cumbria.
He says: “I used to come down of a night to see Jess and I just wouldn’t want to leave her. “And then you stay another night, and another. It started with a toothbrush, and now my pants are in the washing machine and my dinner is on the table. Now I’m all in. We’re loving our time together, it just gets better and better. It’s brilliant being with Jess’ family too, they’re such a lovely bunch.”
Reuben runs a machinery business at Ravenseat, a 2,000-acre family farm in Swaledale, North Yorks, although he now keeps many of his diggers at Brough. He found fame in the Our Yorkshire Farm show, starring with his parents, Amanda and Clive – who split up in 2022 – and his siblings, Raven, Miles, Edith, Violet, Sidney, Annas, Clementine and Nancy. Now Reuben’s own show – which provides the perfect antidote to all the grim news in the world – is a massive hit in its own right. And he and Jess have become a poster pair for young farmers.
Reuben says of Jess’ family: “They’ve taken me in and welcomed me with open arms. It’s nice to be able to spend all my time with Jess.” Jess says: “He was there all the time anyway, it just made sense. It’s so lovely living together, really special. We do go out for the odd meal for a date night, and we went on holiday together to Cyprus last year. But, mainly – when we’re not working – you’ll find us cosying up with fish and chips or a Chinese takeaway.”
The latest series of Reuben Owen: Life in the Dales, which airs from May 5 on Channel 5 sees Reuben working hard on his machinery business, which he started with the help of dad Clive, who turns 70 on the show, giving the whole family cause to down tools and celebrate.
Reuben says: “We’ve been celebrating with dad. I’m so lucky to have him and my mum. They did such a good job raising all of us kids, and instilled my work ethic. I watched them graft for everything they have, and now I work hard too.” While Clive and Amanda – who is known as The Yorkshire Shepherdess – focused on livestock farming, Reuben’s passion lies in heavy machinery, an interest he inherited from his grandfather.
Reuben says: “Mum and Dad have always been farming orientated. But my mum’s dad was a mechanic – and I think his skills skipped a generation and came to me. It’s nice to know I’m keeping that tradition alive.” In the new series, fans will see the family take to the skies for a hot air balloon ride over Brough Castle to mark Clive’s birthday. Reuben says: “Oh it’s a brilliant moment. I’ll remember it forever!”
Thanking his dad for encouraging him to start his own firm, Reuben continues: “He said, ‘Have a go and if it doesn’t work, it doesn’t work, and if it does – brilliant’. I talk to him all the time, I’ve just got off the phone with him this morning. When I first started he used to come with me to jobs and keep me on the straight and narrow, giving me advice, really encouraging and guiding. He’s been there and done it.
“Mum and Dad – I’m very proud of the pair of them. They’ve worked hard and they’ve both got all sorts. They’re happy enough, they’ve done well, they’ve raised me and all my siblings well. We’re very lucky.” Jess adds: “Working with your family is such a gift. To spend that time together is precious and that is something that farming gives you. You learn everything from your family, don’t you? I’ve learned everything about farming from my dad – he’s always involved me and taught me everything I know. He taught me how to lamb, and encouraged me. And now I teach my sister, who is 10.”
Lambing season – which has seen Jess putting in 15 hour days – has left little time for socialising. Jess yawns, theatrically, saying: “I was with the sheep until 10pm last night. It’s not a 9 to 5 – or a job for the faint hearted. It can be tiring and stressful and it can be hard if something goes wrong.”
Not your average 20 something couple, Reuben says: “There isn’t much partying. More 5am starts. But it’s all we’ve ever known and, in each other, we’ve found someone who really gets the beauty of farming life. Farming is full on and it can be tough. Some tasks are pretty thankless. But working with my family and Jess’ family lightens the load. My favourite jobs are the ones I get to do with Jess. We have our diggers parked at Jess’ farm now, and I call in for ice cream and to see her while I work. You can do a hard job, but when you’re doing it with someone you enjoy spending time with, it doesn’t feel like work.”
*Reuben Owen: Life in the Dales airs Tuesday 5th May. Watch/stream on 5
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