We were delighted to take part in Agriculture Unlocked, a careers-focused event held at Thetford Grammar School. The event, an initiative of the Royal Norfolk Agricultural Association, saw students from TGS and other local secondary schools invited to explore the wide range of exciting, innovative, and rewarding careers available in agriculture.

The aim of the event was to inspire young people, particularly those from non-agricultural backgrounds to discover just how diverse the sector is. Too often, students are unaware of the breadth of opportunities in agriculture, from hands-on practical roles to cutting-edge science, technology, and business.

Alongside other regional and national organisations, we enjoyed engaging with students, sharing what BFWN is all about, and testing their knowledge of farming and local produce from The Brecks. A particular highlight was the chance for students to get up close to a taxidermy Stone Curlew, kindly loaned to us by Natural England.

As expected, only a few students had family connections to farming, but their knowledge and enthusiasm for the subject were incredibly encouraging. When asked which agricultural roles most interested them, many students surprised us by choosing hands-on farming in both the arable and livestock sectors, rather than the agri-tech or ecology sectors we had anticipated.

We hope everyone who attended left with a more positive and informed view of the agricultural sector. It’s inspiring to see that as a result of last year’s Agriculture Unlocked event, three students have since gone on to begin degree courses at Harper Adams University, an outcome that truly highlights the impact of this initiative.