Farmer Time is on the search for more farmers

The search is on for more farmers willing to take part in the Farmer Time initiative.

Strutt & Parker is a proud sponsor of Farmer Time which involves linking farmers with schools so they can inspire and educate young people about farming, food production and the environment through regular video calls.

The initiative is revolutionising how the food and farming industry communicates with the next generation at a vital time for the rural economy.

Farmers are paired with a particular school and then pupils are able to regularly live chat with their matched farmer through video platforms such as FaceTime or Skype.

Since its launch in 2017, Farmer Time has connected 22,696 children with farmers to learn about the contribution they make as custodians of the countryside.

The initiative is run by Leaf Education with the support of its founder Cambridgeshire farmer Tom Martin.

During the past few years, when opportunities for students to visit farms haven’t been possible, it has provided an important opportunity for schoolchildren to gain a real-time understanding of the realities of farm life and ask questions about the supply chain.

Farmers often find they can link topics to the school’s curriculum with 77% of farmers discussing the natural environment, 78% discussing animal welfare and 56% of calls actively discussing sustainability.

The annual Farmer Time impact report for 2021 revealed that 100% of the farmers involved said they enjoyed their experience, often finding calls with their class inspiring.

However, organisers need more farmers to sign up in the UK as 40 schools have been left unpaired.

Strutt & Parker believes at such a crucial time for the rural sector, it is vital to support an open dialogue between farmers and the next generation so they gain a greater understanding of current and future debates around land use.

For further information about Farmer Time and how you can get involved, please visit: www.farmertime.org