Author James Rebanks named as key speaker for Yorkshire farming summit
Best-selling author and farmer James Rebanks will be the keynote speaker at the inaugural Yorkshire Farming Conference, staged by the Yorkshire Agricultural Society at the Great Yorkshire Showground.
The conference is being aimed at everyone working in agriculture and will be held on January 28 at the Great Yorkshire Events Centre at the Harrogate showground, from 9am to 5pm.
The conference will see agriculture’s big topics discussed during a series of talks and workshops featuring farmers, industry leaders and innovators.
Keynote speaker James is a farmer and writer based in the Lake District, where his family has lived and worked for more than 600 years. An advocate and practitioner of farming with nature, James is a graduate of Oxford University and has worked as an expert adviser to UNESCO on sustainable tourism. He has authored bestselling books, including The Shepherd’s Life, English Pastoral and The Place of Tides.
James, who runs a flock of Herdwick sheep and a herd of Belted Galloway cattle, said: “I’m looking forward to speaking at the Yorkshire Farming Conference and meeting other farmers at the Great Yorkshire Showground. It promises to be an interesting and informative day of conversation about the future of farming, and I’m delighted to have been asked to share what I have learned on my own farming journey.”
Allister Nixon, chief executive of the society, said: “We are delighted to reveal James Rebanks as the Yorkshire Farming Conference’s keynote speaker. As a progressive advocate of working with nature and as a farmer who is so passionate about what he does, his session is not to be missed.”
Among other speakers confirmed so far is Anna Jones, founder and managing director of Just Farmers, which aims to improve communication between the farming community and urban audiences.
Yorkshire farmers who will speak at the conference include fourth-generation arable farmer Graham Potter, based near Thirsk, Anna Pennell, who runs pedigree flocks of native sheep breeds near Richmond, and Richard Barker, of Lingy Moor Farming, who finishes Aberdeen Angus cattle.
Topics include farming smarter, policy implications and strengthening supply chains, with talks pitched for everyone in farming regardless of the size of their businesses or how long they have been in the industry.
The theme of the conference is Every Field, Every Farmer, to reflect its inclusive spirit. As well as a programme of talks, the conference will feature a trade show, opportunities for networking and the chance for farmers to claim BASIS and NroSo (CPD) points.
The conference will be the first event brought together by the society’s farming networks – Future Farmers of Yorkshire, Farmer Scientist Network, Yorkshire Rural Support Network, Women In Farming Network and Yorkshire Food, Farming and Rural Network.
Tickets for the Yorkshire Farming Conference are available to purchase online in advance only and are priced £25 + VAT. A discount is available for group bookings of 10 or more. To buy tickets and for more details, visit yorkshirefarmingconference.co.uk