R2Kast - People in Food and Farming/All In

Today we welcome Rachel Draper onto the R2Kast! 🎙️ Rachel’s journey spans the rural traditions of livestock auctioneering and the world of field sports to founding her own countryside-focused social media app. With a young family and a background shaped by ponies and lambs, she’s channelled her knowledge into innovation. 🐑📱After years in the shooting industry—supporting gunmakers, running clay grounds, and managing retail—Rachel stepped back when her daughters were born. But stepping back didn’t mean slowing down. It led her to build ‘Stile Country,’ a platform giving space to outdoor pursuits often sidelined on mainstream social media. 🎯✨We discuss motherhood, entrepreneurship, and a love for the outdoors. Rachel shares how growing up with a livestock auctioneer dad and a horse-loving mum gave her the foundations for the world she now works in. 🐎👩‍👧‍👧Her story is one of community, creativity, and carving out a digital space for rural voices to flourish. A brilliant episode about representation, resilience, and rural life! 🌿❤️Enjoy! 😊Thank you to Howden Rural for the continued support.#StyleCountry #WomenInAg #FieldSports #Gunmakers #LivestockAuction #RuralMum #CountryLife #RuralInnovation #AgriTech #ShootingIndustry #OutdoorApp #RuralCommunity #EquestrianLife #RuralStartups #ShetlandPonies #CountrysideVoices #BritishFarming #FarmLife #HowdenRural #R2Kast #PeopleInFoodAndFarming #DigitalFarming #RuralTech #Entrepreneurship

R2Kast 340 - Sarah Rankin on MasterChef, Seasonal Food and Cooking with ConnectionToday we welcome Sarah Rankin onto the R2Kast! 🎙️ After reaching the final four on BBC’s MasterChef, Sarah transformed her passion for seasonal Scottish cooking into a full-time career—hosting supper clubs, cooking classes, and featuring regularly on BBC Radio. A true advocate for real food and real connection. 🥄📻Sarah talks through her journey from marketing consultant to MasterChef finalist, the intense filming process, and how lockdown sparked a new lease on life. Her time on the show shaped her belief in accessible, sustainable food and the power of authenticity in the kitchen. 🔥📺We explore her two cookbooks—including Kith, which champions Scottish seasonality—and her views on what’s broken in the food system. From promoting local produce to addressing policy imbalances, she’s a powerful voice for better food futures. 🍓🥕With hands-on cooking classes and locally-sourced supper clubs in Kinross, Sarah celebrates food that brings people together. Whether on radio, on stage, or at the table, she’s creating a community where everyone belongs. A deliciously inspiring conversation! 🧑‍🍳❤️Enjoy! 😊Thank you to Howden Rural for the continued support.#SarahRankin #MasterChefUK #ScottishCooking #LocalFood #SustainableEating #SeasonalCooking #KithCookbook #CookingClasses #FoodSystemChange #BBCFood #WomenInFood #FarmToFork #FoodPolicy #CommunityCooking #FoodStorytelling #RealFood #FoodEducation #R2Kast #PeopleInFoodAndFarming #HowdenRural #UKAgVoices

Today as part of the Tales of a Nuffield Scholar podcast which aims to share the stories of Nuffield UK Alumni, we welcome Neil McGowan of Incheoch Farm— a stalwart of Highland livestock farming and a voice of reason in the future of rural leadership. From Perthshire glens to global insights, Neil’s journey is steeped in tradition, challenge, and thoughtful evolution. 🌍With a Nuffield focus on succession planning and knowledge exchange, Neil shares his passion for encouraging farmers to reflect, plan, and communicate. He emphasises the importance of working off-farm, seeing other systems, and returning to agriculture with a renewed mindset. 🧠🌱We explore Neil’s family background, his education in agribusiness at Newcastle, and his early encouragement to step outside of farming before returning to Incheoch full-time. His commitment to learning, legacy, and thoughtful decision-making underpins a deeply inspiring story. 👨‍🌾📚Neil speaks honestly about family, inheritance, and what it takes to keep a business—and a bond—strong across generations. A grounded, wise conversation from someone who’s walked the walk. 🐑❤️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.#R2Kast #NuffieldScholar #NeilMcGowan #SuccessionPlanning #FarmLeadership #AgriLegacy #Incheoch #HighlandFarming #AgriMentoring #AgriBusiness #NuffieldFarming #KnowledgeExchange #SheepFarming #FamilyFarming #ScottishAgriculture #YoungFarmers #AgEducation #RuralResilience #FarmingFuture #HowdenRural #TalesofaNuffieldScholar #AgriVoices #GlobalAgLearning #FarmStories #NuffieldUK

Today we welcome Holly Moscrop onto the R2Kast! 🎙️ Holly’s story is one of strength and adaptability—after becoming chronically ill at 16, she found new ways to stay rooted in the farming life she loves. From running admin for her family’s farm to managing their beef suckler herd, her passion remains undiminished. 🌾🐂Despite being mostly housebound for years due to Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME) and Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS), Holly now gets out daily using a powered wheelchair—her story is a powerful reminder that farming has room for everyone. With her eye on launching meat boxes and expanding the herd, her tenacity shines through. ♿️✨We explore Holly’s growing platform “One Girl and Her Cows,” where she shares life on the farm, her experiences with chronic illness, and a fantastic farm dictionary that breaks down agri-jargon for all. It’s social media that informs and includes, bringing consumers and farmers closer. 📲📚Holly is a strong advocate for inclusivity in agriculture, showing that practical work isn’t the only way to farm. Through cooking, storytelling, and real-world connection, she’s paving a more open path into the sector—where all skillsets and backgrounds are welcomed. A truly uplifting episode! 🌱❤️Enjoy! 😊Thank you to Howden Rural for the continued support.#InclusiveFarming #ChronicIllnessAwareness #MEWarrior #BeefBoxes #FarmAdmin #OneGirlAndHerCows #SucklerHerd #DisabilityAdvocate #WomenInAg #FarmLife #FarmDiversification #AccessibleFarming #FarmBlog #BritishFarming #FarmDictionary #RuralResilience #AgriculturalInclusion #SustainableFarming #FamilyFarm #HowdenRural #R2Kast #PeopleInFoodAndFarming #FarmWithPurpose #UKAgVoices

Today we welcome James Standen onto the R2Kast! 🎙️ With no inherited land but a deep-rooted love for agriculture, James shares his remarkable journey from farm consultancy to managing estates and now running both a tenanted farm and Newcastle University’s agricultural operations. 🌾🐑James takes us through his journey into tenancy, explaining how a chance meeting led to his family securing their North Yorkshire farm. With sheep, stewardship, fishing lakes, and environmental diversification at the heart of their operation, it’s a story of resilience and reinvention. 🏞️🛶We dive into James’s Nuffield Scholarship and how it’s influenced the transformation of Newcastle University’s farms—turning underutilised land into hubs for research, teaching, and student engagement. He shares wins, lessons learned, and the importance of collaboration and strategy. 🎓🧠With a keen focus on integrating environmental stewardship, practical learning, and entrepreneurial thinking, James’s approach offers insight into what resilient farming and modern land-based education can look like. A brilliant mix of innovation and authenticity! 🌱✨Enjoy! 😊Thank you to Howden Rural for the continued support.#TenantedFarming #UniversityFarms #JamesStanden #NewcastleUniversity #EnvironmentalFarming #FarmDiversification #AgEducation #LandUseStrategy #RomneySheep #HolidayCottage #FarmConsultant #ResearchFarming #NuffieldScholar #StewardshipSchemes #FarmWalks #FarmPolicy #PracticalEducation #NextGenFarming #SustainableAgriculture #HowdenRural #R2Kast #PeopleInFoodAndFarming #FarmLeadership #UKAgVoices

Today we welcome Amy Stewart onto the R2Kast! 🎙️ A farmer’s daughter and soon-to-be qualified veterinary nurse, Amy brings heartfelt honesty as she shares her dual world of livestock and labs. From early pig-handling memories to family debates over sheep bandages, it’s a tale of passion and practicality. 🐷🐑Amy opens up about her experience in vet nursing — from OSCE assessments to emotional moments with clients — while reflecting on the value of empathy, community, and support among friends in agriculture. Her perspective offers a refreshing take on resilience in animal care. 🩺❤️We explore Amy’s social media journey, where she juggles brand work, sheepdog training, and life on the farm. With multiple accounts and a love for reels, Amy is redefining what it means to be a modern-day rural influencer, while keeping it real about beauty standards and burnout. 📸🐕Growing up on a mixed farm with sheep and cattle, Amy talks candidly about family dynamics, showing livestock, and the highs and lows of rural life. A true voice for young women in farming, she brings both humour and heart to the conversation. 🌾✨Enjoy! 😊Thank you to Howden Rural for the continued support.#VetNurseLife #FarmHer #AmyStewart #WomenInAg #YoungFarmers #SheepdogTraining #RuralInfluencer #MentalHealthInFarming #MixedFarming #AnimalCare #BeltexSheep #Texels #AberdeenAngus #FarmLifeUK #LivestockCare #VetNursingStudent #AgricultureScotland #FarmersDaughter #HowdenRural #R2Kast #PeopleInFoodAndFarming #AgTikTok #FarmStories

Today we welcome Penny Montgomorie, Sheena Munro and Alec Allison onto the R2Kast to talk all things Big Build! 🏗️ This heartfelt episode dives deep into the past, present, and future of the SAYFC Centre—Young Farmers’ spiritual home—and the enormous challenge ahead to raise £1 million for its redevelopment. 🏡✨From early involvement in speech-making and travel exchanges to national leadership roles, Sheena and Alec reflect on how SAYFC shaped their personal and professional lives. Their stories offer a sense of tradition, legacy, and a reminder of how impactful rural youth networks can be. 🌍👫Penny shares her journey from club member to CEO, recounting how the centre has been her workplace—and home—for over two decades. She walks us through the vision for the new building, the exciting developments, and how the sector can support SAYFC’s biggest project in years. 🏢❤️A call to action rounds off this special episode—whether it’s a big contribution or a small gesture, everyone can play a part in building a future for SAYFC. This episode is a love letter to the power of community and what happens when people rally around a common cause. 🤝🔥Enjoy! 😊Thank you to Howden Rural for the continued support.#BigBuild #SAYFC #YoungFarmersScotland #YouthDevelopment #FarmLeadership #AlecAllison #SheenaMunro #PennyMontgomorie #SAYFCHistory #FarmingCommunity #RuralEducation #FundraisingChallenge #HighlandShow #SAYFCHeadquarters #SAYFCAlumni #FarmingWithFriends #AgriFuture #ScottishAgriculture #FarmNetwork #R2Kast #PeopleInFoodAndFarming #HowdenRural #AgYouthSupport #AgriHeritage

Today as part of the Tales of a Nuffield Scholar podcast which aims to share the stories of Nuffield UK Alumni, we welcome Heather Wildman — an unstoppable force in UK agriculture, leadership development, and communication training. From a Cumbrian hill farm to global influence, Heather’s story is packed with grit, growth, and generosity. 🌍Heather takes us from New Zealand’s dairy scene to cowboying in Montana, to learning about second chances in a Canadian high-security prison. Her Nuffield journey on “communication and motivating change” gave her a new lens — one that still shapes her work mentoring the next generation. 🤠✈️We dive into Cultivating Leaders, a programme Heather created for SAYFC, now in its 10th year. She shares how she wished someone had told 24-year-old Heather about vision, leadership, and self-belief — so she created that space for others. 🌱 💬 Heather is also a trustee of the board of the Henry Plumb Foundation which supported me with podcast equipment last year! Her story is candid, powerful, and packed with lessons. We cover mental health, succession, and ageing with curiosity. A true voice of wisdom and warmth in the rural space, Heather shows how living with purpose can spark transformation across the sector. 🔥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.#R2Kast #NuffieldScholar #HeatherWildman #CultivatingLeaders #SAYFC #LeadershipInFarming #FarmMentoring #AgriLeadership #WomenInAg #CommunicationSkills #RuralDevelopment #DairyFarming #NewZealandAg #AgriculturalEducation #YoungFarmers #RuralResilience #SuccessionPlanning #FarmingFuture #MentalHealthInAg #AgInfluence #NuffieldFarming #HowdenRural #FarmLeadership #GlobalAgLearning #AgriPodcast #FarmStories

Today we welcome George Lyon onto the R2Kast! 🎙️ A seventh-generation tenant farmer from the Isle of Bute, George shares his journey from milking cows to shaping Scottish agricultural policy. With roots in beef, sheep, and dairy farming, his early life was grounded in the rhythms of island agriculture. 🐄🌿George reflects on his transition into politics and how representing his community became central to his mission. From leading through industry protests to restructuring key organisations during crisis, he speaks candidly about the challenges of balancing leadership, advocacy, and loyalty. 🚜📢We explore his political rise—from becoming an MSP for Argyll and Bute to representing Scotland in the European Parliament. George gives a behind-the-scenes look at coalition politics, CAP reform, and the growing impact of divisive discourse in the digital age. 🏛️📲Now president of the Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland, George is helping steer the organisation through financial transformation while celebrating the culture and innovation of Scottish farming. A voice of reason and resilience, his story is rooted in service, tradition, and vision. 🧠🌍Enjoy! 😊Thank you to Howden Rural for the continued support.#TenantFarming #ScottishAgriculture #GeorgeLyon #RoyalHighlandShow #RASScotland #FarmPolicy #PoliticalLeadership #IslandFarming #BeefAndSheep #AgriculturalHeritage #ButeFarming #CAPReform #FoodAndFarming #AgPolitics #CoalitionGovernment #FarmingTraditions #RuralVoice #FarmingResilience #HowdenRural #R2Kast #PeopleInFoodAndFarming #RegenerativeFutures #FarmLeadership #UKFarmingVoices