My first month at RABDF has gone in a flash, and it’s nice to have the Christmas break to reflect on what I’ve learned so far, and gear up for a busy start to 2025.
I’ve had the genuine privilege of being part of the judging panel for our Dairy Student of the Year Award. Seven inspiring, thought provoking, incredibly insightful presentations that every student should be proud of. The winner will be announced at Dairy Tech, and there’s more on the award in the newsletter.
Earlier in December I attended my first RABDF Council meeting, which was a wonderful introduction to the trustees, a valuable discussion on future plans and a cracking display of festive knitwear. The following day I joined the great and the good of the dairy industry as the annual Dairy UK Cheese Ceremony at the Royal Chelsea Hospital. It’s always a humbling and heartfelt occasion to mingle with the veterans and celebrate the best of British cheese and the spirit of giving.
Inside the office, Dairy Tech fever is building. This year the show has more exhibitors than ever before and the team are hard at work readying for the thousands of dairy farmers from across the UK and beyond that will pass through its doors.
Every year at the show we bring forth an illuminating line up of speakers to share their perspectives, insights and expertise with dairy farmers for one day only. The Hub is always a lively affair with sessions and debates that will get people talking. I’ll be chairing the morning’s political session, with NFU President, Tom Bradshaw and AHDB’s CEO Graham Wilkinson in the hot seat, with other high profile speakers to be announced closer to the event.
Let’s remind ourselves of why RABDF launched Dairy Tech in the first place; to place the greatest innovations from every industry at dairy farmers’ fingertips. To lead, to inspire, to inform and to help dairy farmers be their absolute best.
Before that though, I’m looking forward to the New Year Conference scene. I’ll be at the Oxford Farming Conference to hear some edgy talks and debates. I’ll leave there and hoof it up to Bonnie Scotland where I’m looking forward to addressing the audience of Semex, fifteen years after I first attended.
I look forward seeing you in the coming months at one or more of these inspiring events and to kicking off 2025 feeling positive and buoyed by the prospects of this industry.