Farming Help hosts live chat panels for LAMMA 2023

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The Farming Help charities are this year’s charity partner for the LAMMA being held on Tuesday 10th and Wednesday 11th January 2023.

For the first time ever, Farming Help is taking a proactive approach to reaching their target audience during the event by hosting LIVE panel chats with reputable farming guest speakers. By taking this interactive approach, the Farming Help charities hope to spread the word far and wide about how the three Farming Help charities, The Farming Community Network (FCN), the Addington Fund and Forage Aid, are there to help farmers and the farming community when times get tough. Find out more about LAMMA 2023, our guest speakers and register for your FREE ticket, below.

Join us on Tuesday 10th January, 2:30pm in Hall 9, stand 9.530

In defence of farmers: debunking agriculture’s greatest myths: British farmers work to some of the highest standards in the world. But media reports and activists can paint farmers in a negative light, holding them accountable for global issues and at times representing them unfairly.

We often hear:

• “Farmers don’t care about their animals”

• “Farming is causing climate change”

• “You can’t go in to farming if you don’t have a farming background”

New research by The Farming Community Network has shown how a lack of public understanding and appreciation for farming can contribute to mental ill-health.

This session will debunk some of the popular myths that surround farming, giving farmers the opportunity to highlight the many ways they’re protecting the environment and the enormous work that goes into providing high quality animal welfare. It will also showcase how agriculture is an industry that welcomes people from different backgrounds, including those taking their first steps into this challenging but immensely rewarding way of life.

Chaired by Alex Phillimore (FCN) and Annie Winn (Addington Fund), the guest speakers joining are:

• Andrew Ward MBE, Founder of Forage Aid.

• Will Roobottom: Silver Digital Innovator of the Year BFA 2021, Pedigree Lleyn Sheep Farmer & YouTube Blogger

• Anna Longthorp, a fourth generation free range pig farmer from Yorkshire.

Here’s what you need to know about them:

Andrew Ward MBE, Founder of Forage Aid

Andrew Ward MBE, Founder of Forage Aid

Andrew Ward MBE, also knows as “Wardy” is a arable farmer from Lincolnshire, farming nearly 2,000 acres of crops. Farming all his life, he has extensive knowledge of the agricultural industry. He owns and presents Wardy’s Weekly Waffle via his own YouTube channel. The aim of this? To spread positive messages about the agri industry far and wide.

Will Roobottom, Sheep farmer and YouTube blogger

Will Roobottom, Silver Digital Innovator of the Year BFA 2021, Pedigree Lleyn Sheep Farmer & YouTube Blogger 

Will is a young farmer based in Staffordshire. Coming from a farming background, he introduced a sheep flock onto the farm whilst being passionate about educating the public about real life farming. Over the past 3 years he has taken it upon himself to open up the farm on social media to show the behind the scenes action of his farming life.

Anna Longthorp, fourth generation pig farmer

Anna Longthorp, a fourth generation free range pig farmer from Yorkshire.

Anna set up her business “Anna’s Happy Trotters” 14 years ago and now supplies her free range pork directly to small independent businesses. She is incredibly passionate about the industry, highlighting the UK’s strong focus on animal welfare standards and environmental credentials which encourages British consumers, a nation of “animal lovers”, to consider where their food comes from.

Join us on Wednesday 11th January, 1:30pm in Hall 9, stand 9.530

Wellbeing support in the agricultural workplace: Covid-19 changed the face of the workplace for many of us, with flexible ways of working becoming the norm for many in agricultural roles and a growing focus on maintaining a healthy work-life balance.

Jeremy Gibbs, Founder of Forces Farming

Alongside this, there has been a growing recognition of the need to ensure employee safety and wellbeing are fundamental parts of corporate strategies, facilitating greater employee retention and productivity.

This session will feature a range of organisations highlighting some of the ways they’re looking after the health, wellbeing and safety of their employees, ensuring they’re protecting their #1 asset – the people at the heart of their businesses.

Joining us for this session is guest speaker Jeremy Gibbs, founder of Forces Farming, to speak about the importance of wellbeing and how agriculture helps current veterans and service leavers.

Join us, join in and back British agriculture. We look forward to seeing you there…