Harry Davies of Hopes Ash Farm, Herefordshire, is Farmers Weekly’s 2023 Ag Scholar of the Yr.
You possibly can inform inside a short while of chatting with Harry that he might be a pacesetter in our trade. He has an excellent mixture of talent, data, charisma and actual humility.
Not solely is he massively dedicated to his circle of relatives farm’s future, however he’s additionally enthusiastic about progress within the agricultural sector.
He has a sound understanding of the trade, mirrored in good grades and excellent references from lecturers and employers.
See additionally: The 2023 Farmers Weekly Awards shortlist
Harry has demonstrated big adaptability all through his college years.
Simply as readily as he will get caught in on the dwelling farm in Herefordshire – which has 100ha of arable alongside dairy, beef, sheep, fruit and poultry enterprises – he turned his hand to engaged on an 11,300ha arable unit in Western Australia throughout his placement.
As a substitute of focusing that yr on the livestock sectors he is aware of finest, he recognized that arable was the place he had much less expertise, so utilized for particular placements to “fill that data hole.”
Putting a steadiness
The profitable juggling of his research and excessive ranges of accountability at his dwelling farm is proof of Harry’s work ethic.
He has been the important thing decision-maker for the 150-head dairy herd all through his college years and managed the set up of a slurry-only anaerobic digestion plant this yr.
Together with a photo voltaic array, it would make the farm 95-100% self-sufficient in renewable electrical energy.
Harry says that with out the abilities realized at Harper Adams, corresponding to constructing design, partial budgeting, mission organisation and other people administration, the mission would have been considerably more difficult.
In addition to the tutorial learnings at college, he says publicity to completely different folks and methods has additionally broadened his consciousness and led him to re-evaluate every little thing on the house farm.
Progressive considering
Harry is keen to sort out thorny points, particularly when contemplating the environmental influence of accelerating meals manufacturing. One instance native to house is the elevated phosphate ranges within the River Wye.
“The very fact is that agriculture makes a big contribution to phosphate air pollution throughout the catchment.
“We, as farmers, should not bury our heads within the sand, and should face this downside as a united neighborhood on our personal phrases.
“In any other case change might be compelled by legislators, which can be to the detriment of the ag trade and neighborhood throughout the catchment,” Harry says, demonstrating his proactive perspective to discovering sustainable options.
He centered his Honours analysis mission on the stripping of phosphate from animal manures, a know-how he believes will play an enormous half in fixing the issue.
Client engagement
One in all Harry’s college lecturers advised the FW judges: “Harry possesses a large working data of each UK and world farming points however is in no way boastful or condescending when speaking to somebody much less knowledgeable or others outdoors the trade.”
This approachability and talent to interact with all factors of view undoubtedly helps Harry lead the bimonthly “stroll and discuss” classes that he has launched on the dwelling farm.
Welcoming folks from the close by city, he goals to present them an perception into farming and dispel any misconceptions they might have. Harry hopes to broaden his client engagement efforts when full-time on the farm.
Profitable methods
- Clear imaginative and prescient for private improvement, with Info and Foundation {qualifications} aspired to within the brief time period and a Nuffield scholarship in the long run
- Stepping out of his consolation zone to grab alternatives and broaden expertise
- Ardour for agriculture and data throughout the sectors
- Enthusiasm for client engagement and educating younger folks
Scholar notes
- Learning at Harper Adams College
- Course BSc Agriculture
- Research yr Fourth
- Enjoyable reality Harry can juggle whereas driving a unicycle – a talent that he honed for a younger farmers competitors utilizing a hall of upturned bales for steadiness
A phrase from our impartial choose
“Harry is passionate and pushed with a robust data of native and world agricultural points. He has stepped out of his consolation zone to broaden his talent set all through college years and, as an enticing communicator, he’s a unbelievable function mannequin for different ag college students.”
Ally Hunter-Blair, Herefordshire farmer
The Farmers Weekly 2023 Ag Scholar of the Yr Award is sponsored by Lightsource bp
The Farmers Weekly Awards rejoice the easiest of British agriculture by recognising hard-working and revolutionary farmers throughout the UK.
Discover out extra concerning the Awards, the classes and sponsorship alternatives on our Awards web site.
