Future farming leaders must engage with an agenda of challenging agricultural change as they look for creative solutions to drive sustainable businesses, according to the sponsors of the Future Farmers of Yorkshire’s upcoming Autumn Debate.
On Wednesday 11th November at 7.30pm, Future Farmers will live stream a debate offering ‘Top tips for Keeping an Entrepreneurial Mindset’, thanks to support from the Yorkshire Agricultural Society and sponsors GSC Grays and Yorkshire Bank.
Registrations are now open for what promises to be a fascinating evening of entrepreneurial insight – click here to register and for full details.
The Autumn Debate is the first in a dedicated series of events being organised by Future Farmers to prepare its 1,000-plus members for the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead amid post-Brexit changes to farming policy, support and trade.
In the coming months, members will be offered the chance to sign up for a Leadership Training course (previously due to be held this month and currently postponed to a date TBC due to coronavirus restrictions), followed in the Spring by a Using Financial Management Accounts Workshop and a Developing & Writing Business Workshop.
Looking ahead to next week’s Autumn Debate, Brian Richardson, UK Head of Agriculture at Yorkshire Bank said:
The Future Farmers Autumn Debate comes at a vital time for UK Agriculture, with a massive amount of change happening in the sector.
The effects of these changes will be felt for many years so it’s important that the industry’s future leaders are informed and are involved in discussions to ensure the continued success of the sector.
Yorkshire Bank is pleased to support this event – I look forward to an interesting evening and hearing from the speakers.
James Severn, Rural Director of GSC Grays added:
Our industry is about to go through a period of huge change, both economic, as direct financial support reduces and trading conditions evolve post Brexit, but also, physical, let’s not overlook the impact of climate change on weather patterns.
Our aim, as farmers and professionals alike, must be to navigate this period of adjustment successfully, creating economically and environmentally sustainable farming businesses as part of a forward-thinking agricultural industry.
Achieving this will demand from us all, creative thinking, an ability to take tough decisions where change is needed and perhaps, above all, to think differently to make the future happen. The theme of the Future Farmers’ Autumn Debate is the perfect starting point for this journey.
During the live debate, which will be chaired by Future Farmers Management Board member Charlotte Middlebrook, viewers will hear from and have the chance to ask questions to:
- Hannah Senior, a Nuffield Scholar and Managing Director of PBS International;
- Charlotte Wells-Thompson, Co-owner of the award-winning Bert’s Barrow Farm Shop in Hillam near Leeds;
- Victoria Robertshaw, Founder of Keelham Farm Shop and owner of Delicious Planet Consultancy;
- And, Tom Best, Auctioneer and Art Advisor at The Auction Collective.
Read more: Adopt an entrepreneurial mindset to face farming’s challenges – Charlotte Middlebrook
Read more: Farmer Time is a ‘no brainer’ to connect next generation with agriculture
