Megan Edwards
Harper Adams University
Sponsored by: Kubota UK
Megan Edwards’ list of achievements and activities is as fully comprehensive as it gets, seizing every opportunity which presents itself to further her practical and personal skillset.
From a non-farming background, Megan has pro-actively completed a wide range of work experiences and she credits her strong work ethic as facilitating constant learning and increasing her passion for UK agriculture.
Previous placement roles have included stockmanship and showmanship duties, relief milking, lambing, calf rearing and progressing into a supervisory role on a farm diversification producing biodegradable flower confetti.
Although most of her experience was spent with livestock, she quickly developed a passion to pursue the poultry sector.
To that end, she has been awarded a number of scholarships, including one from Avara Foods, and successfully completed a placement year with the business, culminating in a full-time graduate position which she begins this month.
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Commitment
During university, Megan undertook multiple positions of responsibility, including course representative, RAG chairman, where she co-raised £17,000 for charity, vice-chairman of the Fieldsports society. As a site warden, she was part of team and played a key role in communicating campus updates and changes during the onset of Covid-19 along with the provision of pastoral care to fellow students.
Having been a steward at Newport Show for numerous years, she is also a committed member of Holstein Young Breeders and was awarded member of the year in 2015 while also competing in local and national stockmanship competitions and supporting younger members of the club.
With a growing population and poultry meat being one of the cheapest and most accessible proteins, Megan believes the industry must work together to share ideas and improve sustainability surrounding the health and welfare of birds.
With this in mind, Megan plans on applying for multiple industry poultry programmes to further fuel her appetite for knowledge and is keen to travel overseas to learn more about poultry across a global scale.
On winning, Megan said:
To hear the news I had won was actually unbelievable. I feel so overwhelmed but so happy. Coming from a non-farming background I feel humbled to receive such a prestigious award and it means a lot to be recognised for the hard work I have put in. There are so many agricultural students coming into the industry with fresh ideas and a willingness to try and make a difference. I am excited to have started my graduate scheme with Avara and see the opportunities that this will bring.
What the judges said:
Megan is an exemplary Agricultural Student of the Year with a huge passion for the agricultural industry. Coming from a non-farming background, she has created a plethora of opportunities which she has seized with admirable energy, self-motivation and enthusiasm. Megan demonstrates a clarity of thinking using a whole variety of platforms and which has seen her elevate her profile both inside and outside of agricultural student life. Definitely, one to watch out for in the future.