Harper Adams students to promote agri-food careers at Lord Mayor's Show

Posted 4 November 2014

Harper Adams University will be represented at the Lord Mayor’s Show for the second year running this weekend, after students past and present were selected to feature by the Worshipful Company of Farmers. 

The Company has teamed up with the NFU and John Deere to develop its latest Lord Mayor’s Show display, which aims to encourage the public to back British farming. They have invited 8 members of Young Farmers Clubs across England and Wales to accompany a state-of-the-art John Deere combine harvester through the streets of central London on Saturday. 

The high-tech machine is being used to demonstrate how our food is produced and the young farmers, representing the NFU’s seven English regions and Wales, will promote farming and agriculture as a modern and vibrant industry that provides a wide range of career opportunities such as agronomists, scientists, vets and engineers.

NFU Vice President Guy Smith said: “We are very honoured and excited to take part in one of London’s biggest and most prestigious events. The combine will look stunning and will be specially branded to promote our back British farming messages and to let the public know that farmers are proud to produce their food. 

“Having eight young farmers with us, all of them passionate about what they do, will also provide the perfect platform to engage with the watching crowds and inform them about the different and varied careers available in agriculture.”

One of the young farmers participating is Harper Adams student Rebecca Kelsall, 21, from Cheshire. Rebecca, who is studying a BSc in Agri-business and is currently on a placement year working with Genus ABS in Nantwich, said: “I'm incredibly overwhelmed to have been put forward to represent all farmers in the North West. I couldn't be more excited for this amazing, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”

Joining Rebecca will be recent Harper Adams graduate Beth Duchesne, who said: “It is a huge honour and an amazing opportunity to be asked to take part in the Lord Mayor’s Show. I cannot wait to represent the eastern region on Saturday, it will be a day I will never forget. The future of the industry is relying on the next generation. I’m delighted to be able to play my part in showing young people the wealth of opportunities within the industry; it's not just driving a tractor or milking a cow; it is a lot more than that!” Beth, 22, from Bury St Edmonds, is a graduate agribusiness consultant with Bidwells.  

Representing Wales is Jack Thomas, 19, from Cowbridge, who is in the second year of a degree in agri-business at Harper Adams. And South East representative Robyn Gibbons, 16, wants to study at Harper Adams in the future. 

In 2013, Harper Adams University worked with the Worshipful Company of Farmers and CLAAS to demonstrate “21st Century Farming in Motion” at the Lord Mayor’s Show. 

This Saturday, The John Deere S685i combine will be driven from Mansion House to St Paul’s Cathedral and on to the Strand before a return leg along the Embankment and Queen Victoria Street and back to Mansion House. This year is the 687th Lord Mayor’s Show and is expected to attract crowds of more than half a million people on the day, as well as millions more watching the live broadcast on BBC 1.