From 6 to 10 July, La Jaira de Ana, the farm school in Agüimes, became a meeting point for three young professionals from the primary sector who travelled from different corners of Spain. They were brought together by Programa Cultiva, an initiative of Spain’s Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAPA) developed together with the Fundación San Isidro Micas, which promotes generational renewal in farming through training placements at leading agricultural businesses. It’s no coincidence that the programme is already known as the “rural Erasmus”: for five days, our farm becomes a hands-on classroom for those who want to learn by seeing good work done properly.
The fact that our farm was chosen to host this second placement says a great deal about what we’ve stood for over the years: that the Canarian primary sector has much to teach, and that innovation and tradition can go hand in hand.
Who is training this week at our farm
The programme is aimed at farmers and livestock breeders under the age of 41, and this edition brought together three very different profiles at La Jaira de Ana:
- Isabel Reche Reche, from Almería, working in semi-intensive goat farming as well as almond and cereal cultivation.
- Paloma Camino Parajón, from Asturias, an organic livestock farmer specialising in sheep, goats and cattle, and also manager of equine, pig and wild boar operations.
- Antonio Tucci, from Ourense, focused on the holistic management of goat herds.
Throughout the week, they will experience first-hand how a farm operates that has become a national benchmark for its commitment to animal welfare, artisan dairy processing and the value it places on local produce.
What they learned at La Jaira de Ana
Management, digitalisation and animal welfare
The programme covers key aspects of competitiveness for any livestock farm: production planning, technical and financial management, cost analysis and marketing. Participants also got a close look at the digital tools we use every day to monitor our animals’ production and health, including automated milking and feeding systems powered by renewable energy.
The Majorera breed and artisan cheesemaking
A central part of the placement is dedicated to the genetic improvement programme for the Majorera goat, a native breed that forms part of our Canarian livestock heritage. The young participants also saw how all the milk produced on the farm is artisanally transformed into cheese under our brand Los Quesitos de Anabel, a model built on on-site processing and direct sales.
Agrotourism and the Harimaguadas social project
Alongside the technical side, participants joined the agrotourism activities we regularly run on the farm, and learned about one of the projects we’re proudest of: Harimaguadas, aimed at supporting the recovery of young women who are survivors of gender-based violence through activities linked to the primary sector and Canarian identity. As Anabel puts it: “I’m proud that they can get to know this project” and take that experience back with them to their home regions.
A model of women’s entrepreneurship in rural areas
La Jaira de Ana, run by Anabel Calderín Castro, has become a benchmark for women’s entrepreneurship in rural areas and for economic diversification: it combines livestock farming with artisan cheesemaking, process digitalisation and agrotourism. This approach also explains why the Fundación San Isidro Micas, one of the eight organisations coordinating Programa Cultiva nationwide, has multiplied its activity in just a few years: from six training placements in 2023 and nine in 2024, it now coordinates 27 in the 2026 edition.
Anabel Calderín, from participant to mentor
Our founder, Anabel Calderín, experiences this week from a dual perspective: as host and as a former Programa Cultiva participant herself. The placements she completed in other autonomous communities allowed her to discover new management techniques, digitalisation processes and different ways of selling cheese. Now it’s her turn to pass that learning on, something she approaches, she says, “with great enthusiasm and as a personal challenge,” driven by her passion for teaching.
As part of the placement, the three young professionals will also visit the Quesería Artesanal del Rosario, in Agaete, to learn about another model of cheese production and sale.
Why this matters to you too, if you visit us
The fact that young farmers and livestock breeders from all over Spain choose La Jaira de Ana for their training is the best proof of something we try to convey in every visit, workshop or birthday celebration we host here: we care for our animals, respect tradition and believe in local produce. What these young professionals are experiencing this week is exactly what you and your family can experience in any of our activities: from a farm visit to our artisan
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Programa Cultiva?
It’s an initiative of Spain’s Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAPA) that organises training placements for young farmers and livestock breeders under 41 at leading farms across Spain. Because of its practical exchange format between farms, it’s also known as the “rural Erasmus.”
Why was La Jaira de Ana chosen?
Because it’s a nationally recognised model for innovation, animal welfare, artisan dairy processing and economic diversification in rural areas.
Can I visit the farm even if I don’t work in the sector?
Yes. La Jaira de Ana welcomes families, schools, groups and businesses every day for activities such as the farm visit, the cheesemaking workshop and the local produce tasting.
Where can I buy the cheese made on the farm?
All the milk produced at La Jaira de Ana is artisanally transformed into cheese under our brand Los Quesitos de Anabel.
Experience La Jaira de Ana for yourself
If this story has helped you get to know us a little better, we invite you to see it for yourself.
Check availability for a farm visit, an artisan cheesemaking workshop, or any of our experiences in Agüimes, Gran Canaria.