NFU Education students learning on LAMMA event floor
This year, LAMMA broke records with a massive increase in the number of visitors, including over 1,000 students. And for the first time ever, 30 students came to the Career Zone from different local schools. Organised by NFU Education and sponsored by AGCO, the students were welcomed by Emily Ashworth, Farmers Guardian's online editor, and Louise Bradshaw, Farmers Guardian's social media and content specialist.
AGCO and G's Naturally Fresh conducted interactive workshops for the students. They were also invited to embark on a LAMMA trivia trail, answering informative questions while visiting exhibitors which created a dynamic learning experience. The hope is that this enhanced their understanding of the industry through direct interaction and exploration.
Speaking on the Farmers Guardian podcast LAMMA special, Jenny Devine, education manager at NFU, says: "We invited 30 year nine students from schools in urban locations and the idea is to expose them to the wealth of opportunities that are available in agriculture.
"Some of them are interested in science, technology or journalism and there is a place for all of this here."
Three well-known young farmers in the agricultural industry, all with a high number of followers on social media - Will Roobottom, Bizza Walters, and Amy Wilkinson - led the students on a walk-through of LAMMA 2024, sharing their insights and ideas to support and inspire the younger generation.
Bizza Walters says: "It is exciting seeing them excited about it.
"If you are interested, ask questions - there is no such thing as a stupid question. I do not know much about dairy farming, and I ask what I think might be a stupid question, but people want to help."
Jobs In Agriculture led two different sessions in the LAMMA Live seminar theatre, one chaired by Farmers Guardian Editor, Olivia Midgley, which covered advice on attracting and maintaining employee talent in the industry. The second was chaired by Rachel Davey from The Farming Community Network with #CareersInAg ambassadors, Bizza Walters and Will Roobottom, discussing the experiences of young people in the industry and highlighting the significance of social media in inspiring others to engage in agriculture.
Representatives from various exhibitors, including City and Guilds, AGCO, Forces Farming, G's Fresh, Carr's Billington, and The Institute of Agriculture and Horticulture (TIAH), also took to the Career Zone stage throughout the event. Each exhibitor offered a unique perspective, shedding light on diverse aspects of the agricultural industry. City & Guilds provided valuable knowledge on skill development, while AGCO shared latest advancements in agricultural technology. Jeremy Gibbs from Forces Farming, an initiative that helps connect the armed forces to farming, shared experiences on the collaboration between agriculture and military service and G's Fresh discussed sustainable farming practices.
