Three scholars selected to attend Royal Agricultural Society of the Commonwealth conference in Canada

Three Harper Adams University students will be heading to Canada in November, having been awarded scholarships funding their attendance at the Royal Agricultural Society of the Commonwealth (RASC) biennial conference. The RASC recognises the importance of encouraging youth across the Commonwealth and these students will also be funded to attend the Next Generation event, which brings together young people sharing a common interest, enabling them to share knowledge and exchange information.

Bethan Till from Snowdonia, currently in the final stages of her PhD thesis, is the recipient of the Henry Plumb Foundation PhD Scholarship. Her thesis is titled "The effect of feeding microalgae on rumen fermentation, milk and cheese fatty acid profile and fertility in dairy cows" and she hopes to start a new job in the next few months working as a farm advisor and nutritionist.

Bethan said:  ‘I am very grateful to Lord Plumb for the opportunity to attend the Next Generation event and the 28^th Commonwealth Agricultural conference held in Canada later this year. The scholarship will provide me with invaluable experience that will no doubt help me with progression in my career in the agricultural industry. I am very excited to attend the conference, and will hopefully be able to give a talk at the Next Generation event on my own PhD work conducted at Harper. I am very passionate about agriculture and believe that attending the "Next Generation Event" will enable me to share ideas and information about the future of agriculture, and discuss both problems and opportunities facing the next generation of famers and agricultural industries. Following on from the conference I wish to use the experience I will have gained to give talks to local YFC clubs in Wales, to promote agriculture in good light. I would also contact my School and College and ask if I could attend career events and talk to younger school pupils. I also believe it's important to share experiences with other postgraduate and undergraduate students at Harper Adams, and I would do so by talking at the annual Colloquium and at a lunch time seminar."

 The University’s Development Trust has provided funding for travel, accommodation and conference costs to enable two final year undergraduates to attend the event.

Amy Stoner, a final year BSc (Hons) Food, Nutrition and Wellbeing student at Harper Adams University said: “I can’t wait to be part of the development and sharing of new ideas around the world, to help address the issues within the agri-food supply chain.  Attending the RASC conference will be an amazing and exciting opportunity.”

Matthew Rollason, a final year BSc Hons Agriculture with Animal Science degree student is keen to use the opportunity to improve his knowledge of Canadian beef production. Despite not being from a farming background, he has dedicated himself to a career in the livestock sector. He has secured a graduate role with Kelly Bronze, where he will be involved with the beef breeding programme.

Matthew told us he will be “proud to act as an ambassador Harper Adams and UK Agriculture, exchanging ideas and promoting greater collaboration with people from across the Commonwealth and Next Generation”.

Pictured L to R:  Amy Stoner, Matthew Rollason, Bethan Till