The National Farmers’ Union (NFU) is urging its members to consider becoming Farmers for Schools ambassadors to promote the industry to secondary school children.
The union now has more than 275 trained ambassadors for the programme, which sees the visit schools across the country to help secondary school children understand farming better.
The NFU said it wants to show them how farmers are addressing climate change, harnessing technology, looking after the environment and producing food to world-leading standards.
Farmers for Schools ambassadors deliver 30 to 45-minute assemblies in local secondary schools about their day-to-day life on their farm.
The union said this gives ambassadors the chance to showcase the value of British farming and correct any myths or misconceptions, as well as answer questions from students.
Typically, ambassadors work together in pairs to deliver two assemblies over the course of the academic year.
Training
The NFU said its training course gives its ambassadors the tools to deliver an engaging and thought-provoking presentation for an assembly.
It also aims to give them the opportunity to network with other NFU members and discuss how to best share their farming story.
The union said it is currently working on autumn training dates and venues and will be launching these towards the end of the summer.
One date is confirmed so far – a visit to New Agriculture House, Taunton, on October 16, 2024.
Each training day will take place between 10:00a.m – 3:00p.m.
NFU vice president Rachel Hallos said: “The NFU’s initiative is a vitally important means of linking food production with the next generation of young consumers.”
Linking young people and farming
NFU chief education manager, Josh Payne, said: “It’s been brilliant to hear how well our ambassadors are doing and how well their presentations are being received in schools and colleges.
“Getting into schools, especially in urban areas, is a great way of connecting young people to the food they buy and eat.
“We’re are looking forward to training even more ambassadors ready to engage teenagers and get them thinking about food and farming.”
Mixed farmer and Harper Adams student, Thomas Saunders, has completed the Farmers for Schools ambassadors training.
“The NFU Education team delivered a very informative presentation,” he said.
“The mixed age environment was excellent. It allowed trainees with a couple of years or several decades of farming experience to discuss and deliver small sections of their potential presentations to each other.
“I learned how to summarise key information to ensure the audience remain interested.
“We really need to make positive changes within farming, and school pupils are the industry’s future. It is crucial that they understand the importance of backing British farming.”
Saunders said this will ensure that the agriculture industry continues to be “strong, dynamic and efficient”.
“The more people trained to speak in schools, the greater the understanding of British farming among the population,” he said.
