I am online editor at Farmers Guardian and have worked here for almost 10 years. Working within the rural community is a real privilege, and I have a passion for telling the stories of those who work to produce our food and maintain our beautiful, British countryside.

I trained to be a journalist during the pandemic in 2020 after an opportunity to meet my fellow native Yorkshireman, broadcaster and hero Sir Michael Parkinson. After gaining a qualification at the Sheffield College, I joined the Grimsby Telegraph in 2021 as a trainee reporter. It was a fantastic experience to learn the trade and build the skills required as a journalist in the 21st Century. After a year of training, I joined the Rotherham Advertiser as a senior reporter which was a fantastic opportunity to learn from respected and award-winning journalists with valued experience beyond my years. After another year, the opportunity to join Farmers Guardian became available and, quite simply, I went for it. The opportunity to join a national and respected publication was an irresistible prospect. I really wanted to test myself in an industry which, admittedly, I knew very little about but what a journey it has been. I have had my eyes opened to the wonderful work of farmers across Britain and the unique set of challenges and demands they face from all walks of life. I am now in their corner, fighting every step of the way to hear their views and ensure they are heard across Government. It is a privilege to be part of this industry. So I have been a news and business reporter at Farmers Guardian since May 2023 and it has been a fantastic experience to engage and be inspired by the people who make agriculture the fantastic industry that it is. 

‘Rosemary is one of the family Owners and Directors  of Bluebell Dairy Ltd  on their tenanted Dairy Farm- Brunswood Farm, located  on the eastern edge of Derby. Started in 2008 by Rosemary and family, the business has evolved  into the beautiful, Bluebells Luxury Artisan  Ice Cream Brand and Bluebells Farm Park that it is today.

Brand Quality along with sustainability for both the Business and the Environment the family care for is high on Rosemary’s agenda. ‘

Angela Calvert is head of livestock sales for Farmers Guardian which involves managing the sales and markets pages of the magazine. This is in addition to contributing features and technical articles to the livestock section, covering shows and industry events and planning and managing a number of the special livestock supplements. Angela is home-based in South Yorkshire where she has a small commercial sheep flock and breeds horses.

Alex and Emily Crawley as new entrants, established Grazing Management, based on their agricultural, environmental and project management expertise. Their business provides conservation grazing and land management services, working with land owners and land managers to fulfil statutory responsibilities and  environmental scheme agreements. 

Suzy Deeley is a farmer’s daughter from Oxfordshire and Head of Partnerships at RABI, the UK’s largest charity provider of support and the leading provider of mental health services and training to the farming community.

James Duke has dedicated his career to helping dairy farmers improve cow health and farm efficiency. It was this passion and commitment that encouraged him to develop his own unique milking equipment and establish the ADF Milking brand in 2005. “Our ethos is to milk cows comfortably and efficiently,” he says.

James Eckley, Chief Officer of the NFYFC, joined the NFYFC in 1996 as General Manager of its commercial department.  He then moved and worked with a consultancy specialising in agricultural employment for two years. In 2006 James returned to NFYFC in a senior management role and as Chief Officer overseeing NFYFC’s operations and governance.  James studied Field Grown Crop Production (Fresh Produce) – large scale fruit and vegetable farming.

Katie’s dedication to agriculture, particularly soil husbandry and grassland management, has deep roots, originating from her upbringing on a progressive dairy farm in southwest Ireland. Her academic journey began with studies at Harper Adams and includes further studies through BASIS Soil and Water, FACTS, and Grassland modules at Aberystwyth University, and completing the AHDB Developing Grass Expertise programme.

During her studies at Harper Adams University, Katie undertook a significant year-long placement with Teagasc at the Moorepark Animal and Grassland Research and Innovation Centre. This experience ignited her interest in both the quantitative and qualitative aspects of animal production systems.

Upon completing her degree, Katie spent five years as an agricultural consultant across the UK. In this role, she provided specialised advice in nutrient management, soil husbandry, and grassland management, helping farmers to optimise grassland production and utilisation.

Now serving as a Senior Engagement Manager with AHDB, Katie focuses on fostering relationships within the agricultural and environmental sectors. Her portfolio includes managing the Forage for Knowledge project, which delivers weekly updates on grass growth and quality, and contributing to the GrassCheckGB project, an industry collaboration focused on data collection and grass analysis. Her work spans areas such as Reputational Defence, Environment, Grassland Systems, and the development of Engagement Tools & Resources.

Katie’s mission is to enhance levy payers' understanding of sustainable farming practices, integrating nutritional requirements with pasture supply for grazing livestock to improve efficiency and environmental sustainability. Through her work, she continues to support the agricultural community, driving forward innovation and practical solutions.

Katie Fallon has been a member of the livestock team at Farmers Guardian for over two years now, writing for both the Farmers Guardian and Dairy Farmer magazine. Based in County Durham, Katie is from a beef and sheep background and has a keen interest in the dairy industry.

In 2008, my husband and I established Springlebee Holsteins on a 57 acre council farm. My career has included working at a veterinary practice, studying equine science and floristry. However, my passion is dairy farming. In 2021 we achieved our goal of purchasing a farm. We now farm 445 acres, milking 210, plus 300 followers, selling dairy heifers.

Kendra Hall is a communications specialist at Reverberate PR and recently completed a Nuffield Scholarship exploring how to build trust in farming through improved transparency of livestock production. She is also a three-time Paralympic medallist in sitting volleyball, most recently competing at London 2012 where her team earned Silver.

As Machinery and Farm Technology Specialist at the Farmers Guardian I have a keen interest, in farm machinery in particular technological advancement to benefit farms' future sustainability. Gathering information through industry connections and events I continually look for new inotvie products to benefit the farming industry. Of which I use the information to report topical industry developments, to aid the professional farmer in their decision-making process. Alongside the Farmers Guardian, I also write for allied publications Arable Farming and Dairy Farmer magazines with a keen personal interest in both sectors.

Katie Jones completed a Masters in newspaper journalism before joining Farmers Guardian in 2006 as a trainee reporter. She is now Head of Livestock for Farmers Guardian, and since 2020 has been Editor of sister title, Dairy Farmer. Hailing from a farming background, Katie now lives with her husband and their young family on a 300-cow dairy farm in Cheshire.

Georgina Lamb is the Senior Partnerships Manager at The Farming Community Network (FCN), where she works closely with the agricultural business community and organisations who support the charity.  A first-generation beef farmer’s daughter from Halifax, Georgina has spent most of her career in the farming charity sector supporting those who are dealing with difficulties and challenging times, as well as being hands-on at the family farm.

Born and bred on a mixed livestock farm in Herefordshire, agricultural has always been my passion. This has led me to work on the livestock desk, writing for both Farmers Guardian and Dairy Farmers publications for just over two years. Most recently I have been involved in our new Celebrating Rural Communities section which shares the best of our rural communities and young farmers. 

Mr Lazenby is the CEO of BASIS, driving change and improvement.  He has 25 years experience in food, agriculture, and farming.  Andrew is also the Vice Chair of The Global Tuna Alliance and a Board Trustee of the William Scott Abbott Trust.

Hailing from a family farming background that inspired a career linked to farming and the land, Catherine graduated with a BSc degree in Agriculture and the Environment from Wye College, University of London, in the 90s, She has since pursued a career in communications and PR with a focus on the agriculture, food chain and environment sectors. From setting up Pinstone as a sole trader in 2005, she has grown the agency to be the largest in its specialism, with a team of over 20 and serving clients ranging from blue chip, through to industry associations and organisations that include those representing animal health firms, banking, water companies, renewables businesses and agri-businesses. Catherine is a former Chairman of the British Guild of Agricultural Journalism and has led Pinstone to be a multiple award-winning PR business.

Olivia is a journalist and editor and joined Farmers Guardian's London team in 2011. Olivia became editor of Farmers Guardian in March, 2023.

She is also deputy chair of the Guild of Agricultural Journalists which promotes careers, training and development opportunities for journalists and PR professionals working in agriculture.

I grew up on the farm at home with a key interest especially in the sheep side of the business. Following school I did an apprenticeship at a pedigree blackface sheep farm in Perthsire. Following the apprenticeship I went milking in New Zealand throughout the winter and returned home with a renewed drive to increase the efficiency of the then 220 cow dairy unit which was averaging 9500L. In 2015/2016 I completed the Tesco Future Farmer Foundation which gather me a very broad experience of the whole ag industry with in depth business workshops alongside building a great network of people with incredible knowledge from every sector of Ag. In 2018 we looked at the farm plan for the future, as a family it was decided we would expand the dairy unit, which in 2019 we completed building a new cubicle shed and rotary parlour for 400 cows with a view to increase production to 12,000L. The new unit has surpassed expectations and in 2024 we are again expanding to 800 cows through a new cubicle shed.

Charlie spent 25 years with JCB, including 11 years leading R&D for the Fastrac range. He also spent his early years designing telehandlers and latterly 5 years as the Backhoe Loader Chief Engineer. Growing up on a farm, he then studied Agricultural Engineering to degree level. Outside of work Charlie keeps himself busy with family life and pursuing his hobby of vintage tractors and competition ploughing.

I’m a tenant farmer from York, that diversified over 20 years ago by opening a maize maze. The business grew quickly, and we moved site in 2007 away from the tenanted farm and have since become the most visited maize maze in Europe, along with one of the UK’s most successful Halloween events “Hallowscream”

After winning the BFA Agriculture Student of the year last year I’ve gained confidence and firmly believe I’m in the right sector. The recognition has been great. Now I get to take part in awarding the next passionate deserving student. I am proud to get to take part in continuing to celebrate British agriculture and its future.

Harriet was raised in Yorkshire and has over 15 years of experience working in the agricultural sector. After graduating with a law degree, Harriet spent some time in practical farming and land management before becoming an agricultural lecturer at Bishop Burton College and then an agricultural course leader at Newton Rigg College in Cumbria. Before joining the CLA in July 2024, Harriet worked for the NFU in the midlands, ensuring member representation, managing a team of branch secretaries and building a wider remit on livestock issues and rural crime.

David Rawlings, an innovative entrepreneur, transformed his working farm into a thriving enterprise with a wedding venue, glamping pods, and a vodka business. His commitment to sustainability and community has earned them the Farm Diversification Award (Large) showcasing their vision for the future of farming.

We were the proud winners of 2023 British Sheep Farmer of the year award.

We farm 2200 lairg type north country cheviot ewes at Attonburn and Mowhaugh farms in a contract farming agreement with Roxburghe Estates. We also bought our own farm at Kelso where we run 400 romney ewes, 120 texel and beltex x ewes and 70 head of cattle. We aim to sell only the highest quality stock from our store lambs all the way through to breeding tups. 

We were honoured and excited to be asked to help judge this category this year!

Neil Shand is CEO of the National Beef Association, a member-based organisation representing beef farmers in the UK, and promoting the highest possible levels of best practice throughout the production chain­.

A farmer’s son originally from the east coast of Scotland, Neil had a twenty-year career in the forestry/paper industry, followed by ten years as CEO of the British Simmental Cattle Society. He is a pedigree cattle breeder with a passion for perfection, and a positive outlook, which is often required being a supporter of Aberdeen FC!

Neil is an advocate for high health and welfare standards of beef production, and for transparency at all stages of the supply chain, driving for an improvement in efficiency which benefits both producer and consumer.

Fourth generation family farmer near Melton Mowbray Leicestershire. We run a 2,750 acre mixed traditional farm. 850 head of continental cattle bought in 12 months finishing around 18-24 months per annum. 2,000 pigs bed and breakfast for Ian Mosey/Woodheads. 180,000 broiler chickens grown for Moy Park. We are also a monitor farm for Morrisons Net Zero programme. 

My name is Matt Slack and I’m a fifth generation master butcher based in South Yorkshire. My passion is educating the public about the journey from farm to fork and how the farming industry and butchers work together to produce a quality end product.

I have been working at Agriconnect since June 2023, working closely on all events within Agriconnect’s portfolio. Before that, my experience in diversification started whilst working for a video technology company where I adapted our strategy of focusing on news to launching an entertainment VOD subscription-only channel. Following the success of the channel, I ventured into working at a Californian winery, where we made use of the land to open guest accommodation on the premises.

Phil leads NSA in its role of providing a voice for the UK sheep sector. Prior to joining the organisation in 2011, he spent over 20 years in practical farming and farm management, followed by 15 years leading the Soil Association’s support for its farmer and grower members. Outside work, Phil immerses himself in things practical, coppicing woodland, keeping poultry and sheep, growing veg and various DIY projects.

Jane Thynne has been a member of the Farmers Guardian news and business team for just over two years, specialising in political policy, the supply chain and horticulture. Last year she joined Ashleigh Ellwood to take a closer look at the arable sector.

Amy works on her family’s tenanted farm at Halsall, Lancashire. Working mainly with her dad, Amy farms 285ha (704 acres) of arable crops and 550 beef cross cattle which are all reared through to finishing.