Newport and District Agricultural Society, organisers of Newport Show, has recently awarded a scholarship to a local Harper Adams University student.
The recipient, Sophie Vernon, is a second-year student at the university studying BSc (Hons) in Agriculture with Farm Business Management.
The scholarship award is competitive with applicants having to participate in a rigorous interview with a panel of judges. They also have to present a written statement setting out why they are worthy of the award, which is worth £1,500 to the recipient.
Sophie gave a talk recently to members of the agricultural society at a well-attended annual general meeting. She explained that whilst studying, she also worked on the family farm in Calverhall near Whitchurch.
Sophie said “I plan to go to New Zealand for my university work placement year after helping with the preparations for this year’s Newport Show on Saturday, July 8. My aim is to broaden my dairy farming knowledge with spring calving systems and effective grass management. I am interested to learn about the different strategies and approaches which farmers take towards milk production”.
Show manager, Sally Western, said “The agricultural society makes this annual scholarship award as part of its charitable remit to encourage students to develop their agricultural knowledge and careers”.
She said that the quality of applications this year had been very high but the judges felt that Sophie’s self-motivation, commitment and enthusiasm made her the stand-out candidate.
