R2Kast - People in Food and Farming/All In

Today we welcome Michael Rolfe onto the R2Kast! 🎙️ Known to many as Mikey, Michael is a proud Lanarkshire lad with a passion for agricultural engineering. From helping his dad in the workshop to leading at the West Region level of SAYFC, Mikey’s journey is one of dedication, pride in workmanship, and lifelong learning. 🔧🌾We delve into Mikey’s route into ag engineering, from a school work experience placement to an apprenticeship that’s taken him to France and back. Now a key technician at Hamilton Ross Group, Mikey shares his expertise in precision agriculture, GPS, and the growing importance of automation in farming. 🌍🧰Beyond spanners and diagnostics, Mikey’s commitment to Young Farmers is inspiring. From a reluctant 15-year-old dragged into Talent Spot to West Region Chair running a hugely successful Talent Spot just last month, he’s grown in confidence, leadership, and public speaking—skills he says have transformed his career and life. 🎭💪We chat about the evolving role of tractors, brands like Fendt and Massey, the rise of robotics like the AgBot, and how farming’s digital future is already here. Mikey’s humour, honesty, and passion make this a brilliant listen for anyone curious about the mechanics behind modern agriculture! 🚜✨Enjoy! 😊Thank you to Howden Rural for the continued support.#AgEngineering #PrecisionFarming #YoungFarmers #SAYFC #FarmingScotland #TractorTech #AutoSteer #AgriCareers #FendtLife #MasseyFerguson #Agco #MechanicLife #Apprenticeships #DigitalFarming #GPSFarming #AgTech #AgInspiration #WestRegionSAYFC #TalentSpot #LeadershipInAg #HowdenRural #R2Kast #MichaelRolfe

Today we welcome Jack Bradley onto the R2Kast! 🎙️ Jack’s journey into agriculture didn’t begin in a field, but on a beach in Kavos! A holiday romance introduced him to milking cows and kicked off an unexpected but passionate career in dairy farming. 🌾💬Having long dreamed of a life in the military, Jack’s path was repeatedly interrupted by injury and medical discharge. After years of fighting to stay in, he eventually stepped away—and fate led him to the fields of New Zealand, where dairy farming offered a new purpose. 🪖🐄Jack shares how he narrowly avoided being on flight MH17, then embraced a fresh start in Iceland. After years of travel, growth, and grit, he now farms in south Iceland with his fiancée Rebekka. Together, they’ve bought a farm and are excitedly preparing to welcome their first child this July! ❄️👶We also explore the key differences between UK and Icelandic farming, Jack’s reflections on community, purpose, and resilience, and why he believes a bit of going “against the grain” can lead you exactly where you’re meant to be. 💬🔥Enjoy! 😊Thank you to Howden Rural for the continued support.#DairyFarming #MilitaryLife #CareerChange #Resilience #AgriJourney #FarmLife #IcelandFarming #NewZealandFarming #AgainstTheGrain #FarmingCouple #AgParenting #LifeAfterArmy #WestfjordsIceland #R2Kast #FarmingPodcast #AgricultureUK #FarmingDifferences #JackBradley #FarmToFuture #SouthIceland #AgInspiration #HowdenRural #JulyBaby #NeverGiveUp

Today we welcome Jamie Bartley onto the R2Kast! 🎙️ Jamie is the CEO and founder of Unyte Group, a dynamic business tackling decarbonisation in the built environment through retrofit solutions, waste remediation, training, and scaling hemp as a carbon-negative material! ♻️🌱Jamie shares how Unyte has grown from a vision of low-carbon retrofit to a hub of innovation—developing hemp-based insulation, training installers, and pioneering circular construction practices. His passion for scaling sustainable change shines throughout! 🏗️🌿We explore the complexities of industrial hemp, including THC legislation, the stark differences from marijuana, and why historical misinformation has held back a material with massive regenerative, nutritional, and ecological benefits. 🌍📜From soil health to bee biodiversity, Jamie dives into hemp’s role in regenerative farming. We also cover biochar, a carbon sequestration powerhouse, and hemp’s potential in textiles, food, construction, and even aviation fuel! ✈️🧵 His advice? Don’t give up—this sector needs pioneers!Enjoy! 😊Thank you to Howden Rural for the continued support.#HempFarming #CarbonNegative #Biochar #SustainableConstruction #UnyteGroup #RegenerativeAg #CircularEconomy #IndustrialHemp #AgTech #GreenBuilding #NetZero #HempInsulation #EnvironmentalImpact #LowCarbon #RuralInnovation #SustainableFarming #SoilHealth #CarbonSequestration #GreenSkills #FarmingFuture #Podcast #AgriLeadership #ClimateAction #SustainableMaterials #NatureBasedSolutions #CleanTech

Today as part of the Tales of a Nuffield Scholar podcast which aims to share the stories of Nuffield UK Alumni we welcome Tony Pexton and James Pick. 🌍✨ With nearly 50 years between their scholarships, this episode beautifully contrasts two eras of learning, travel, and transformation in UK agriculture. 🚜Tony shares his 1975 Nuffield journey 50 years on, reflecting on studying sheep and big flock management across New Zealand. 🐑 He discusses how Nuffield sparked his lifelong involvement in industry leadership, including time as Chair of Nuffield and the Farmers Club. His second Nuffield (one of two to ever do two), funded by the Frank Arden Award, explored sustaining rural incomes—highlighting change, adaptability, and the evolving agricultural landscape. 📈🌾James takes us through a more modern lens, discovering Nuffield after seeing “NSch” in Twitter bios. 📱 His scholarship investigates whether potatoes can be grown without degrading soil, a challenge he explored across North America, Australia, New Zealand, and Europe. James shares the emotional highs and logistical hurdles of solo travel—and how Nuffield accelerated his personal and professional growth. 🌍🥔Together, Tony and James reflect on what has changed and what remains timeless about Nuffield: the power of travel, the importance of meeting global thinkers, and the shared fire to move agriculture forward. 🔥 It’s a cross-generational conversation packed with insight, humility, and admiration for the sector and the people in it. 💬🌱Enjoy! 😊Thank you to Howden Rural for their support of this project.The views in this podcast are that of those involved and not that of the Nuffield Farming Scholarships Trust.#NuffieldScholar #AgricultureLeadership #RegenerativeFarming #SoilHealth #PotatoFarming #ArableFarming #SheepFarming #FarmResilience #FarmInnovation #RuralDevelopment #YoungFarmers #GlobalAgriculture #UKFarming #AgriLeadership #FarmingStories #FarmLife #KnowledgeExchange #AgriPolicy #AgEducation #SustainableFarming #Farming #Agriculture #Sustainability #Leadership #Innovation #GlobalNetworking

Today we welcome Chloe Lucas onto the R2Kast! 🎙️ Chloe’s story is one of transformation—beginning in London as a children’s nurse with no farming background, to becoming a passionate advocate for agriculture through her work with Highland cattle. 🐮🌱Chloe opens up about the mental health struggles she faced during the pandemic as an NHS paediatric nurse and how this led her to discover a new path through farming. From watching Clarkson’s Farm to volunteering on livestock farms, Chloe shares how rural life became her therapy. 🧠❤️She speaks about her incredible connection with her Highland cows, her voluntary farming adventures across the UK, and her unique fusion of healthcare and agriculture. Chloe now works with Barleylands to educate schoolchildren about food origins. 🧑‍🌾📚Nominated for the Women in Agriculture Influencer of the Year award, Chloe’s humble approach, powerful story, and community spirit shine. Her story reminds us that it’s never too late to find purpose, and that farming welcomes everyone—regardless of background. Good luck on May 6th, Chloe! 🏆✨Enjoy! 😊#HighlandCows #WomenInAg #NHSHero #MentalHealthAwareness #FarmingJourney #AgriInspiration #NewToFarming #PaediatricNurse #FarmLife #AgriculturalEducation #RuralTherapy #FarmVolunteering #AgInfluencer #FoodOrigins #CattleCare #R2Kast #YoungFarmers #SupportLocalAg #AgriCommunity #FarmingWithHeart #TransformationStory #Inspiration #Farming

Today we welcome Alix Ritchie onto the R2Kast! 🎙️ A true stalwart of Scottish agriculture, Alix shares her remarkable journey—from a childhood on a non-working farm to becoming a respected voice in rural education and mental well-being. 🌿Alix and her husband John run Montalt Farm in Perthshire, where they focus on regenerative grazing, reducing inputs, and aiming to farm without subsidies. 🐑 Their system includes Solaris and Simmental-cross cattle, alongside easy-care sheep, all raised with low-intervention methods and strong emphasis on soil health. 🚜✨We explore Alix’s career journey, from SAYFC to QMS, where she led the development of ‘Farming Food Steps’ and the educational game ‘Mission Sustained.’ These innovative resources help integrate agriculture into the curriculum, showcasing how red meat fits into health, sustainability, and real-world learning. 📚💡Now leading FarmStrong Scotland, Alix champions peer-to-peer support for farmers and crofters, promoting well-being through events, podcasts, and practical tools. With a small team, she’s driving real change in how the sector views health, mindset, and work-life balance. 🧠❤️Enjoy! 😊Thank you to Howden Rural for the continued support.#FarmStrongScotland #Wellbeing #MentalHealthMatters #GrasslandManagement #RegenerativeFarming #AgEducation #YoungFarmers #CurriculumChange #MissionSustained #FarmingFoodSteps #WomenInAg #FarmLife #ScottishFarming #SheepFarming #CattleBreeding #LeadershipInAg #SustainabilityInAg #PeerSupport #AgriculturalInnovation #CommunityEngagement #R2Kast #Inspiration #Farming

Today, we welcome Euan Bremner onto the R2Kast! 🎙️ From the northernmost tip of mainland Scotland to working on massive arable farms in England and Australia, Euan’s journey in agriculture has been shaped by a mix of home, travel, and leadership. 🌍🚜Euan grew up on his family’s beef and sheep farm in Caithness but initially wasn’t certain about a farming career. Instead, he pursued agricultural mechanisation at Harper Adams, which led him to placements on large-scale arable estates. 🌾 His time in Lincolnshire, working on a 14,000-acre farm, opened his eyes to precision farming, large-scale operations, and even chlorophyll harvesting for food colouring! 🏭✨His adventures didn’t stop there—Euan worked in Australia during one of the worst wildfire seasons, witnessing the scale and challenges of farming in extreme conditions. 🔥 He also spent time working in precision agriculture with Cornthwaite Group in Scotland, before ultimately deciding to return home to Caithness and commit to the family farm. His experiences reinforced the importance of seeing different systems before settling into the home farm. 🌱💡Beyond farming, Euan has taken on a major leadership role as North Chair of SAYFC, where we’ve had the pleasure of working closely together. 🤝 It’s been great collaborating with him, and his proactive approach to SAYFC has been inspiring! Euan has played a crucial role in representing young farmers across the region, driving engagement, and ensuring members get the best opportunities. 🚜🔥Enjoy! 😊Thank you to Howden Rural for the continued support.#YoungFarmers #SAYFC #Agriculture #HarperAdams #BeefFarming #ArableFarming #PrecisionAg #ScottishFarming #FarmLeadership #AgCareers #AgriTech #SustainableFarming #FarmLife #RuralDevelopment #Caithness #SheepFarming #FarmingCommunity #ScottishAgriculture #FarmingInnovation #LivestockFarming #Leadership

Today, we welcome Annie Winn onto the R2Kast! 🎙️ Annie’s journey from studying animal husbandry to founding She Sells Socials, Events, and More has been anything but conventional! 🌾📱Annie shares her unexpected path into agriculture, from working in farm certification to marketing for the Addington Fund and eventually taking the leap into self-employment. 🚀 Her story highlights the value of adaptability, passion, and finding the right opportunities in an ever-changing industry. 💡✨Beyond her business, Annie reflects on her love for travel, her time working in Ibiza, and how stepping outside her comfort zone shaped her career. 🌍 From working in bars to running successful social media campaigns, she proves that life experience is just as valuable as formal education. 🍹💼Annie’s passion for rural communities is evident in her work, where she helps agricultural businesses thrive online. 📢 Her expertise in content creation, engagement strategies, and brand storytelling has made her a key figure in agri-marketing. It’s been a pleasure getting to know Annie and seeing her bring fresh ideas to the sector! 🚜🔥Enjoy! 😊Thank you to Howden Rural for the continued support.#SocialMediaMarketing #Agriculture #AgriMarketing #ContentCreation #SheSellsSocials #FarmingCommunity #Marketing #RuralBusiness #AgriLeadership #Travel #FreelancerLife #DigitalMarketing #CreativeEntrepreneur #EventManagement #BrandStrategy #FarmLife #Networking #SmallBusiness #SelfEmployment #BusinessGrowth #MarketingTips

Today, as part of the Tales of a Nuffield Scholar podcast, which aims to share the stories of Nuffield UK Alumni, we welcome Neville and Di Stangroom! 🌍✨ Their journey through agriculture, fruit growing, and Nuffield has been filled with innovation, travel, and a deep commitment to the industry. 🚜🍎I found a lot of similarities between that or Di and Neville’s relationship to that of Yasmine and I’s!👫Neville’s Nuffield Scholarship in 1978 focused on mechanising fruit harvesting, particularly for apples and strawberries. 🍓 He travelled to Australia to explore innovative techniques, learning about the Tertura trellis system and integrated pest management, which transformed his approach to farming. While some ideas didn’t take off, the lessons on sustainability and pest control were invaluable. 🌱💡 He also remains deeply involved in blackcurrant production, supplying fruit for Ribena and playing a role in the evolution of modern fruit-growing practices. 🍇🚜Di brings a unique perspective, having supported the farm’s operations while also driving change in mental health awareness in farming. 💙 She co-founded YARNA (You Are Not Alone), an initiative that provided counselling for farmers struggling with isolation and depression. Her dedication has helped transform attitudes towards mental health in the sector, proving the impact of Nuffield beyond just farming practices. 👏🧠Their Nuffield experiences led to lifelong connections worldwide, from Australia to Zimbabwe. 🌏 Through hospitality, conferences, and networking, they’ve formed friendships that continue to shape their perspectives today. Their advice? Don’t over-plan, embrace the unexpected, and always make time for people. It’s been a privilege to share their story! 🤝🔥Enjoy! 😊Thank you to Howden Rural for their support of this project.The views in this podcast are that of those involved and not that of the Nuffield Farming Scholarships Trust.#NuffieldScholar #RegenerativeAgriculture #SustainableFarming #MentalHealthAwareness #FruitGrowing #Blackcurrants #AgInnovation #FarmResilience #PestManagement #AgLeadership #RuralSupport #Agriculture #YoungFarmers #FarmingCommunity #FarmLife #IntegratedPestManagement #Horticulture #FarmerWellbeing #InternationalFarming #KnowledgeExchange #RuralMentalHealth