Teenagers learn drones, genetics and precision farming

At the end of June a Food, Farming and Environment competition saw teenagers from six schools from across the UK take part in milking cows, tractor driving and auto-steer, sheep weighing, genetics, electronic identification, drones and precision farming.  Students also looked at how farmers are producing food sustainably through woodland management and wildlife conservation.

The weekend culminated in students presenting to a panel of judges on what they had learnt from their experience, what had inspired them and how it had changed their views of farming.   Based on the quality of the presentation Ysgol Henry Richard were crowned this year’s overall winner of the Innovation School of the Year 2019 in Food, Farming and Environment.

Iain Clarke, Head of Coleg Cambria Llysfasi said he was very proud to be working with LEAF Education on the competition:

“The teenagers who won the weekend competition, many coming from non-farming backgrounds, were truly inspirational, knowledgeable, confident and articulate, and I believe we have seen some up and coming leaders for our industry.  With young people like this, the Agricultural, Engineering and Forestry industries, will be in very safe hands."

Carl Edwards, Director, Education and Public Engagement at LEAF, added: "Teenagers have often been a neglected group in terms of outreach, however, our research shows that they want to know more, care about how their food is produced, hold strong views about environmental issues and are eager to learn more about career opportunities in the sector. Congratulations to our overall winners, Ysgol Henry Richard, and to all the students and staff from our participating schools – the level of engagement this year has been exceptional.”

The date of next year’s LEAF Education Food, Farming and Environment Competition will be announced later this year.