The Agri Academy, now approaching its fifth year, has 120 alumni including the 2016 candidates, when the programme received the highest number of applications since the programme was first launched in 2012.
The aims of the Agri Academy are to identify the most promising and ambitious individuals making their way in the agricultural industry in Wales today, giving them the inspiration, confidence, skills and contacts they need to become future rural leaders, business people and entrepreneurs.
The Rural Leadership programme, a collaboration with the Royal Welsh Agricultural Society, aims to develop and nurture a new generation of leaders, while the Business and Innovation programme offers personal and business development to help meet the challenges of farming in the future. Young people aged 16-19 considering a career in the food and farming industries are also invited to apply for the Junior Academy, which is run in collaboration with Wales YFC.
The Agri Academy is paving the way to success in business for its alumni, and many of them credit the action-packed programme of training, mentoring, support and guidance across a wide range of disciplines with their current success and plans for the future.
This year’s successful candidates will be selected by an independent panel of agricultural experts, chaired by Professor Wynne Jones, OBE FRAgS. Once selected, they will participate in a series of challenging workshops and seminars during three residential study periods, including an overseas visit for each of the senior programmes. All this year’s Academy members will be invited to a ceremony and networking event at the Royal Welsh Agricultural Society Winter Fair.
Farming Connect, which is funded by Welsh Government and the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development, will in 2017 also provide a major alumni networking opportunity which brings together candidates from all previous years of the Agri Academy.
The closing date for applications is 31 March 2017. For further information, eligibility criteria and to download application forms, visit the Agri Academy page.
Last year’s alumni are persuasive advocates of the Agri Academy
Chartered surveyor Carwyn Rees (26) a dairy farmer’s son from Llandovery, who works for a firm of rural chartered surveyors in Pembrokeshire, was the winner of last year’s highly contested Agri Academy Business & Innovation Programme challenge. Carwyn says it is thanks to the guidance of Academy mentors and encouragement of fellow students that he is now developing the next on-farm enterprise of high end camping pods on the family-run caravan park.
“The Agri Academy experience has made me realise that I should take on new challenges now rather than postponing them. I’ve finally put my ideas into practice and have purchased four new camping pods to expand the current touring park. I have a business plan to keep me on track with financial targets and I’m already well advanced with plans to market the business in time for this summer’s visitors.”
But Geraint says that his experience as a Rural Leadership Programme student, which included meeting agricultural policy leads at the European Parliament in Brussels, was a life-changing opportunity which introduced him to some brilliant individuals.
“The Agri Academy gave me the chance to meet so many of the movers and shakers in the agriculture industry in Wales today. I’m very much looking forward to meeting the Cabinet Secretary Lesley Griffiths and a number of the Welsh Government’s lead policy officials at a private meeting after the FUW breakfast.
“The Academy has been an inspirational experience for me. I have a fantastic new group of like-minded, ambitious friends and I’m looking forward to continuing with this unique support network which I know will benefit us all and and also be good for the industry at what is undoubtedly a challenging time.”
Chartered environmentalist and social entrepreneur Helen Howells, who farms with her family
“As a task-focused and driven professional, it has been beneficial to me to take time out and consider my long-term career goals. For me that is being the director of my own company and creating something that shares my vision and values. My company, Hwylus Cyf, works alongside public, private and voluntary organisations, providing strategic-level consultancy on a range of social, economic and environmental issues.”
“The Agri Academy introduced me to a network of ambitious and dynamic individuals, all with a passion for working in rural Wales. It was beneficial to travel together to get an EU-perspective of Brexit from the people who need to implement it. And being able to consider the impacts on the range of different farm systems we all manage. The real value for me has been walking shoulder to shoulder with some of the brightest talent in the industry. We are not what we do, we are why we do it – and I believe in a vibrant rural Wales.”
Cain Owen (18) who lives on her family’s beef and sheep farm at Llanerchymeydd on Anglesey was selected to commentate in the main ring as part of S4C's coverage of last year’s Winter Fair, and says this was thanks to the media training she received as a student of last year’s Agri Academy Junior Programme.
“The training was a fantastic introduction to broadcasting and it was a huge honour to then be invited to put my new skills to use at the Winter Fair. It has given me a great opportunity to strengthen my CV so I’m hoping this will lead to new opportunities for work experience within the Welsh agricultural media.
“I’m currently studying agriculture at Coleg Glynllifon as well as helping out on the farm every spare minute. Thanks to the Agri-Academy, I am now far more open minded about my future career prospects.
“The Academy introduced me to a new network of people who are all ambitious for the future of agriculture in Wales. I have made fantastic new friends, and I am confident we will all stay in touch and continue to support each other.”