Hosted by staff and representatives from Harper Adams University and NFU Education, the visit combined hands‑on learning with behind‑the‑scenes access to the university’s specialist facilities.
Students took part in campus and farm tours, explored robotics and drone technology and got stuck into soil science sessions led by academic experts.
The day also included opportunities to meet current students, ask questions and experience the university’s teaching spaces and research environments.
Parents, carers and supporters were also invited to an optional afternoon programme covering student finance, myth‑busting about higher education and the next steps for the AgriFuture Scholarship Programme, also sponsored by NFU Cymru and the NFU Mutual charitable trust.
“Days like this help broaden the next generation’s horizons, build their confidence and show them that they have a place in our industry. We couldn’t be prouder of what they’re achieving.”
NFU Education’s Chief Education Manager Joshua Payne
Envisaging career paths in agriculture
Helenah Durodola is a current PhD student and helped to give tours of the campus to the scholars.
Talking about why the event was important, she reflected: “Events like this give people an idea of what’s possible in agriculture, what they could possibly study.
“People might have the idea that there’s just one way to do agriculture but there are different kinds of areas… Sometimes you might not know exactly what you want but in learning about all these different things, you might be able to point out what you might not want and then eventually know the ones that you want.”
Igniting curiosity and ambition
NFU Chief Education Manager Joshua Payne said: “Watching this year’s AgriFuture cohort engage with opportunities like the visit to Harper Adams really brings home why this programme matters.
“These young people are curious, ambitious and absolutely committed to shaping the future of food and farming. Giving them the chance to get hands‑on with cutting‑edge technology, meet industry experts and experience a leading agricultural university up close is invaluable.
“Days like this help broaden the next generation’s horizons, build their confidence and show them that they have a place in our industry. We couldn’t be prouder of what they’re achieving.”
‘Fantastic opportunity’
A parent of one of the scholars joined the day and said: “[t]oday’s trip to Harper Adams University has been a fantastic opportunity for young people to learn about the opportunities available to them through agriculture, especially at a place that specialises in this field.
“Being able to get involved in hands-on workshops really gives them a deeper insight into how things work and also gives them some inspiration. It shows them that everyone can get involved in these fields, it’s not limited to a specific group of people.”
AgriFuture Scholarship Programme
The AgriFuture Scholarship Programme is the NFU’s flagship youth programme, created to improve diversity and inclusion within British agriculture.
In partnership with NFU Education and the British Veterinary Ethnicity and Diversity Society, the programme aims to attract and support young people from racially marginalised backgrounds into the agricultural sector through a bespoke programme of mentoring, residential experiences and work placements.
By inspiring and supporting young people from underrepresented backgrounds to pursue careers in farming, they can tap into the exciting and diverse STEM career opportunities that the UK agricultural sector has to offer.
