In this months #FarmingCAN, Emily Ashworth and Hannah Park highlight how the industry continues to showcase its worth to the wider public.
To tell the world what we do almost feels like part of the job. And if the industry is to gain the support it needs, farmers and organisations need to continue to showcase just how vital and important the sector is.
From the integral work Linking Environment and Farming (LEAF) does the success of Leafs flagship event, Open Farm Sunday, has played an integral part in helping UK farmers to tell their story to farmers on the ground educating people everyday through social media, connecting to the consumer has never been more vital.
It is not just about food production either. Giving those outside the industry a taste of farming could encourage more to entertain our sector in terms of careers too. So continue to showcase, continue to spread farmings message and continue to be proud of the sector you work in.
record numbers
Since its inception in 1991, Leaf has certainly done what it set out to do, and that is to build public awareness of farming and food production. And the last year has been one of the best yet.
- 35,610 young people had bespoke lessons delivered in the classroom and on-farm.
- Farmer Time, one of Leafs key initiatives, reached 30,686 children and racked up an impressive 72,511 hours of learning.
- #FarmingFortnight saw more engagement than ever, with almost one million people seeing the hashtag on social media.
Leaf Open Farm Sunday
Open Farm Sunday is an event which has taken the farming world by storm since it started, and year on year, it has only become more popular.
Since the first event in 2006, Open Farm Sunday has seen more than 2.9 million visited and, in 2022, numbers boomed:
- More than 250 farms took part
- 175,000 people visited these events 20 per cent of whom had never visited a farm before
- 85 per cent of visitors reported that due to Open Farm Sunday, their trust in British farmers increased
carl edwards
Quick-fire questions with Leafs Carl Edwards
- What is your role?
Mr role with Leaf is the director of education and public engagement.
- What does it entail?
I head up the work to engage, inspire and motivate young people through experiential learning based on food, farming and the natural environment.
This happens in three key ways: by supporting farmers and helping them to deliver on-farm education; supporting teachers to deliver the national curriculum on-farm or in school; and working directly with young people, highlighting careers and working with the public to help them understand and become more conscious consumers.
- Could you sum up what Leaf does in three words?
I would say Leaf focuses on growing, eating and living sustainably.
- How do we encourage people from outside of farming?
There are no easy wins, it is resource and time heavy. You need to give time to young people to offer experiences.
But people want that first-hand account and need to talk directly to the industry. We want to answer peoples questions not have them looking online at misinformation.
For example, with Open Farm Sunday, people love peering behind the farm gate and feel like they are getting access to knowledge which perhaps not everyone else has access to.
- If you could say one thing to someone to make them consider farming as a career option, what would it be?
What our industry offers is somewhere you can be multi-skilled and you can have different passions whether that is from a subject specialism, such as biology or chemistry, or you have the practical elements too.
It is one of those rare industries which brings different skillsets together and can provide young people the opportunity to build their skills. It is also really good fun.
- What key things can the industry do to tell our story?
Reach out and have direct contact with young people and the public.
We are so well placed Caroline Drummond used to say the agricultural industry is 5D and we have an impact on all senses.
From our point of view, it is really positive out there, so be open and honest. Seek support and advice and help. There are lots of organisations out there.
