Beverley student joins London parade to promote farming

The future of farming in Yorkshire will be embodied by 19-year-old Jessica Milner when she takes part in a grand parade through the streets of the capital next weekend.

While studying for a foundation degree in agriculture, the Bishop Burton College student also farms in partnership with her grandfather, and she will be one of eight young farmers accompanying a 22ft John Deere combine harvester as it passes St Paul’s Cathedral as part of the 687th Lord Mayor’s Show on Saturday.

Miss Milner, of Doncaster, has been drafted in to represent the next generation of farmers in Yorkshire, will be joined by seven other young farmers representing each of the National Farmers’ Union’s (NFU) other regions.

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The NFU has teamed up with The Worshipful Company of Farmers and John Deere to take part in the Show, which will be broadcast live on the BBC and is expected to attract crowds of more than 500,000 people. As well as urging the public to back British farming, they will be promoting agriculture as a modern, vibrant industry that provides a range of career opportunities.

Guy Smith, the NFU’s vice president, said: “Having eight young farmers with us, all of them passionate about what they do, will provide the perfect platform to engage with the watching crowds and inform them about the different and varied careers available in agriculture.”