Alumna named Social Media Ambassador Of The Year at Irish National Dairy Awards

Posted 20 June 2023

The impact of her online content has seen a Harper Adams alumna named Social Media Ambassador Of The Year at the 2023 Irish National Dairy Awards. 

The inaugural awards were held at?the Midlands Park Hotel in Portlaoise last week. 

With 17 trophies in total up for grabs at the black-tie event, Harper alumna and BSc (Hons) Agriculture with Animal Science graduate Sophie Bell was named winner of the Social Media award for her work promoting the dairy sector and agriculture. 

Despite having more than 20,000 followers on Instagram, 9,000 on TikTok, and a series of high-profile media appearances already under her belt, Sophie confesses she hadn’t expected to be taking the top spot in her category at this year’s ceremony. 

She said: “I was surprised to win the award, I was up against some great people within the sector. 

“However, I’m very grateful and it’s a great motivator to continue on and improve my content online as best as I can, it is great to have my work recognised. I enjoy doing it.” 

The prize is not the first award 24-year-old Sophie, from Virginia, Co. Cavan, has secured – having been named the winner of the Harper Ireland Presidents’ Prize during her time studying in Shropshire. 

Having completed her studies and graduated from Harper Adams University in 2021, Sophie has been developing her career in the pharmaceutical industry, as well as extending her dairy industry experience – and continuing to build her social media following. 

She added: “Since I left Harper, I have been relief milking at weekends – working with about 150 cows. 

“I’ve started contract rearing dairy heifers for two local dairy farmers, and I’ve been working full time as a quality control analyst in veterinary pharmaceuticals, and trying to spend time on improving my knowledge of the sector.

“For example, I was in Amsterdam the other week, learning about the current status of agriculture in Holland and the challenges that they are facing and what the future holds.”