Will Evans

J.P.Evans and Sons, Wales

Frustrated at how farmers are often portrayed in the media, mixed farmer Will began his Rock and Roll Farming podcast earlier this year, with the idea of interviewing farmers and those involved in agriculture and dispel some of the myths that have surrounded food production.

The aim is to showcase the range of interesting and innovative people involved in the industry and appeal to farmers and non-farmers who have an interest in food provenance and the countryside.

Realising the growing popularity of podcasts in the UK, he spent hours on YouTube learning how to produce them.

Will then floated the idea on Facebook and Twitter, where he has 6,000 followers, and received a positive response. Purchasing a logo and the introductory music to his show, he also invested in software, a microphone and headset.

He promotes each show on Facebook when it comes out and the podcast is available through libsyn, which is the podcast host server, iTunes, Stitcher app, and other digital outlets.

The show averages 1,000 weekly downloads, and has featured in the ‘new and noteworthy’ section on iTunes. He aims to grow viewing numbers significantly within six months and will continue developing www.fatherandfarmer.com, where he blogs.

On winning the award, Will said: Farmers and those working in our industry can often be judged but the podcast is a way of humanising our industry and telling the story. I didn’t think for one second I would win this award and it means a hell of it to have done so. I’m just a Welsh farmer doing what I do and I’m just hugely grateful.

The judges said about Will: Will demonstrated passion and innovation for Rock and Roll Farming, a podcast service and blog designed to give British farmers and those working within the industry a voice. By championing British farming he is allowing people to talk about a wealth of topical issues happening in the industry right now.