September marks the second anniversary of the East of England Agricultural Society’s Scholars Programme, two years of supporting the next generation of leaders in within the agricultural industry. Over the past two years, the programme has not only provided vital financial assistance to talented individuals but also begun to help develop professional networks and provide the means for recipients to grow in their careers.
A Look Back at Our Scholars
One of the elements we have been most proud of over the last two years is the diversity in subject matter from our applicants. Applicants have clearly taken the time to consider what course or event is most applicable for them, not only in the content but in how its delivered, and if that takes them to a different continent, so be it.
Some of the individuals who have benefited from the Scholars Programme include:
Liz Genever – One of our first Scholars Applicants attended the Integrity Soils create coaching course. A course ‘designed to train and empower consultants and coaches in the theory, principles and practices behind healthy, agroecological systems’, allowing Liz to build on her consultancy business and Carbon Calling event.
Dan Jones- Attended the Worshipful Company of Farmers’ Challenge of Rural Leadership Course. The two week course allowed Dan to completely switch off from work and focus on the course content, which included sessions on leadership and communication skills and talks from industry leaders such as George Eustice and Jack Cordery.
Alexander Cumming – Awarding grants for postgraduate education is something our Scholars Committee are quite cautious with, however upon interviewing Alexander for a grant towards his Crop Science Masters at the University of Cambridge, the committee were impressed with Alexander’s goals for the future, with the master’s degree being an integral part of that journey.
Nerys Wright- Will be attending the International Sheep Vet Conference in Australia later this year. Sheep are Nerys’ passion, and working in the sheep consultancy field this conference seemed like a fantastic opportunity for the expansion of Nerys’ knowledge and network. Nerys has also had a paper accepted to be presented at the conference, the Scholars Committee and wider EEAS membership look forward to hearing all about it on her return.
This is just a selection of our grant recipients that begins to show the variety of where the Scholars Programme can be of benefit.
The Importance of Supporting Industry Talent
Farming is about so much more than heading out in the morning to do the practical work, with the increase in technology, science and associated paperwork on farm, the job becomes more nuanced in almost every field, especially at a time where farmers are walking a tight line between profit and loss.
Education and continued development therefor becomes very important. Whether educating farmers directly, the professional advisers who support the boots on the ground or the leaders dictating how they see it working, learning and professional development is key.
Small businesses (such as a family farm) may not have the budget set aside for Conferences and training beyond necessities such as telehandler certification and sprayer competency training, and larger businesses (take national land agency firms) may have the budget but more staff to split it between and tight restrictions on where it can be spent. Grant’s like the Scholars Programme allow people to think outside the box and consider what the opportunities are when budget becomes less of a consideration.
Growth and Plans for the Future
Looking ahead, the East of England Agricultural Society is focused on expanding the Scholars Programme to further impact the agricultural sector. In the coming years we hope to build an element of mentorship and networking into the programme.
We’ve now had enough grant recipients to warrant getting them all in a room together, to help establish a network between themselves and start building the foundation of a support system within the group.
From the inception of the Scholars Programme we’ve had the aim of building in a mentorship element to the programme, making the most of the experience and connections of the EEAS membership. Two years in, we’ve now got our application processes sorted and look forward to discussing how to work mentorship into the programme.
In Conclusion
The first two years of the East of England Agricultural Society’s Scholars Programme have been filled with extraordinary achievements, and we’re just getting started. With the continued support of our membership and the continued open frame of mind from our applicants, we are confident that the programme will continue to grow and empower agricultural leaders of tomorrow.
As we look to the future, we are excited about the possibilities ahead. The agricultural industry is evolving, we believe the Scholars Programme can be a great tool to help our members keep up with the pace of change, or even be the ones drive the evolution.
Our next deadline to receive applications for the Scholars Programme is 19th October 2025. What would you do?
