The day saw 340 pupils, aged between two and eleven, at Pakeman Primary School in Holloway, north London, take part in a range of farming-related activities and was organised by NFU Education as part of a drive to help inner city children learn where their food comes from.
Part of the Farmers for Schools programme, NFU Education delivers assemblies up and down the country all about British food and farming.
To find out how can you can become a Farmers for Schools ambassador, visit: NFUonline.com | Sign up to be an NFU Farmers for Schools ambassador.
The children met farmers who travelled in from across England and Wales, interacted with farm animals and learned how farmers look after them, sat in a tractor and discovered how it is used on farm, learned about different grains and seeds and made butter using British ingredients.
‘A special day’
NFU Livestock Board Chair David Barton said: “As a farmer and food producer, it is so important to connect with schoolchildren and have the opportunity to show and explain how their food is produced.
“But to think there are children in the UK who do not always have enough food is something I find totally unacceptable. So, it’s such a special day to be able to not only explain how food is produced and show the children sheep but to also take food into school for their families to take home.
“Children could even touch, brush and take the sheep for a run around the playground.
“Taking just a small part of the farm into school for a day and seeing the children laughing and smiling is very humbling and fulfilling.”
‘Anybody can be a farmer’
Headteacher Emma Bonnin said: “Seeing the children walk around the corner to the sight of some cows, a tractor and some sheep in the playground is worth every minute. The number of children and parents have walked in and gone ‘Wow!’”
“They’ve learned that anybody can milk a cow and anybody can be a farmer.”
Sian Grove, shepherdess and Farmers for Schools ambassador, who attended the event said: “The Farmers for Schools scheme is great because you get to engage with young people, and they’re all very enthusiastic and learning at the same time.”
Farmers for Schools ambassador Mark Jeffrey said: “The children would have understood that what I produce on my farm ends up on their plates.”
Hundreds of boxes of food donated
The British farmers donated of boxes of vegetable to the school’s foodbank, and plenty of coats and warm clothing to help the children stay warm this winter time.
The donations were for parents and carers, some of which are refugees.
“The Farmers for Schools scheme is great because you get to engage with young people, and they’re all very enthusiastic and learning at the same time.”
Sian Grove, shepherdess and Farmers for Schools ambassador
Those in attendance at the event in their roles as NFU Farmers for Schools Ambassadors include:
- NFU Livestock Board Chair David Barton
- Churriana Genillard, who farms near Cirencester, Gloucestershire
- NFU Cymru Deputy President Abi Reader
- Shepherdess Sian Grove, from Newport, the Isle of Wight
- Mixed beef, sheep and arable farmer Mark Jeffery, from Donhead St Andrew, Wiltshire
- and teacher Victoria Hodge along with her son Oliver, from Shenley, Hertfordshire.
This is a voluntary role which sees NFU members across the country visit schools to talk about food and farming.
Inspiring farmers of the future
Since its inception in 2017, the NFU Education team has educated and engaged more 1.2 million schoolchildren about British agriculture with its wide range of initiatives.
Want to inspire the farmers of the future? Find out how you can be a Farmers for Schools ambassador.
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NFY Cymru Deputy President Abi Reader
Shepherdess and Farmers for Schools ambassador Sian Grove
L-R David Barton, Churriana Genillard, Oliver Hodge, Victoria Hodge, Sian Grove, Abi Reader, Mark Jeffery
