For our first flagship event for the region's next generation of farmers and farming professionals, we invite you to join us on Tuesday 19 April at The Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art in Gateshead - a former flour mill on the banks of the Tyne.
Starting at 6.00pm, we are delighted to offer an evening with four inspirational speakers from around the country, sharing their personal stories of trials and triumphs and their take on the opportunities ahead for the industry we are all so passionate about.
With an informal feel, the event will finish with a beer and a barbeque to make the most of the fabulous setting.
Event outline
The informal evening will kick off in the stunning glass-sided conference room overlooking the river, guided by event chair, Olivia Richardson, the current North East representative on the NFU national Next Generation Forum.
After an hour of inspirational insights from the superb line-up of speakers, the conference session will finish with a panel Q&A.
The all-British 'barbeque and a beer' will start at 8.00pm in the Baltic cafe and riverside paved area, when attendees will have the chance to chat to the speakers in a more informal setting.
Also present at the event will be a range of industry specialists who will also be on-hand for one-to-one discussions.
On the line-up
Rachel Hallos
Rachel and her husband Stephen, took on their run down tenanted hill farm near Ripponden in West Yorkshire in 2003 and set about transforming it into a thriving livestock enterprise worthy of being carried on by their then two young children, Sam and Anna.
Almost 20 years on, the farm is in good shape, a tourism project is adding value, with another diversification in the offing. A positive relationship with Rachel's landlord means the next generation is now champing at the bit.
Will Evans
Hailing from Bangor on Dee in North East Wales, Will Evans is well known for his hugely popular Rock & Roll Farming podcast - started he says out of frustration at how farmers are portrayed in the media. Today it has been downloaded nearly 2 million times and listened to in more than 100 countries
He also has an enthralling tale to tell about working within a multi-generational farming business, getting over 'imposter syndrome' and making his way in the farming world.
Amy Jackson
As an experienced communicator, Amy Jackson is known as a passionate advocate for the industry after 25 years in PR as well as working on livestock and arable farms in the UK and Canada.
Very interested in public perceptions of farming, Amy's recent PhD researched public attitudes towards housing and managing dairy cows. Looking ahead she says there is real cause for optimism when we think about how we can deliver what the public really values.
James Drummond
When he returned to the family farm more than a decade ago, James Drummond started to move away from a traditional stratified breeding system to one focused on forage and data-led decisions.
Today, describing himself as a ‘pasture mad’ beef and sheep farmer, his farming system is unrecognisable and he continues as an early adopter of innovative ways to farm more sustainably. His latest enterprise is an
on-farm facility to allow direct sales to the public.
Tickets
Attendance at this event is free, however booking is essential. Everyone registered to attend will be sent a ticket which must be shown on arrival. In addition, a minimum charitable donation of £5 will be required in aid of the Farm Safety Foundation (or Yellow Wellies as we all fondly know them) - the award winning charity dedicated to supporting the physical and mental wellbeing of UK farmers.
Yellow Wellies is well known for campaigns like MIND YOUR HEAD and FARM SAFETY WEEK but they do so much more.
Farming accounts for 1.5% of the economy but an alarming 24% of all workplace deaths! At Yellow Wellies, their focus is on preparing the next generation of farmers to be responsible, confident and safe farmers of the future and their ambition is clear – to find a way to stop farmers having life changing accidents and dying at work.
We think this is one of the most important challenges facing the industry and that's why we hope to raise a fantastic total to support their work.
If you would like to support this tremendously worthwhile fundraising effort, please visit our Just Giving page
Thanks to our generous sponsors
While the NFU is committed to encouraging and supporting the next generation of farmers and farming professionals, this event would not be possible without the very generous support of our two sponsors:
NFU Mutual
NFU Mutual is the insurer of choice for so many farmers and is a long-standing supporter of farm businesses of all shapes and sizes across the region.
NFU Mutual website
Jacksons Law Firm
One of the longest established law firms in the region with vast experience of agricultural issues from succession planning to tenancy agreements.
Jacksons Law website
Event Details
Date: Tuesday 19 April 2022
Time: 6.00pm - 9.00pm
Getting there: See below
Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art
South Shore Road
Gateshead NE8 3BA
Getting there
By train: It is a 20 minute walk from Newcastle Train Station to the Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art.
By car: Please note, there is no parking available at the venue but numerous car parks in the city centre can be used.
On booking we will email you a map showing the walking route from the station as well as the locations for various car parks.
Book now
If you would like to secure a place at the Conference, please submit your details using the form below. If you would prefer to contact us instead, please either email us at [email protected] or call 01904 451550.
Places are limited to 130 and we do need accurate attendance numbers for catering purposes.
If you are booking for more than one person, please specify how many tickets you require. As the booking progresses, we will require contact information for all the people attending.
Once the booking is complete, we will confirm your attendance with an email ticket or tickets that you will need to show on arrival - either printed out or on your phone.