A Harper Adams College scholar was introduced because the winner of the Royal Affiliation of British Dairy Farmers (RABDF) Dairy Pupil of the Yr Award at Dairy-Tech 2023.

Dairy-Tech, which occurred on Wednesday, February 1, 2023, noticed agriculture and farm enterprise administration scholar, Rebecca Smith, win the award to make her the third Harper Adams College scholar in a row to win it.

Smith was introduced with a cheque for £750 and a trophy on the occasion, which is a tailor-made occasion for the following technology of dairy farmers showcasing new know-how and expertise.

As a part of the competitors, Smith additionally received a six-month paid placement with the Dairy Pupil of the Yr Award sponsor, Mole Valley Farmers – an agricultural retailer.

To use for the award, Smith needed to submit a 1,500-word essay on a case examine, ready by Kite Consulting, and ship a presentation to a panel of judges on the Farmers’ Membership in London.

The chair of RABDF, Di Wastenage, mentioned: “Rebecca gave a wonderful presentation displaying her deep sensible and technical information of dairy farming whereas additionally explaining in nice element how the broader business wants to enhance its communication with shoppers.

“Figuring strongly in Rebecca’s presentation was extra modern product growth to seize the precious comfort food-on-the-go shopper.

“She additionally emphasised the significance of selling the soil-health advantages of pasture-based dairy farming as an answer to the broader downside of greenhouse fuel emissions.

“Rebecca additionally had very clear concepts round what we will study from the promotion of plant-based alternate options, utilizing social media and influencers to interact with Gen Z.”

Head of agriculture at Mole Valley Farmers, James Hague, mentioned: “Judging this 12 months’s competitors was troublesome as a result of excessive calibre of scholars within the closing six, which is encouraging and bodes properly for the way forward for our business.

“We are actually trying ahead to Rebecca becoming a member of us on her placement. Mole Valley Farmers and the RABDF will proceed to work collectively to encourage, develop and promote younger individuals who can work to ship modern and sensible options to the challenges of contemporary dairy farming.”