Chaired by NFU President Tom Bradshaw, our next Shed Talks focuses on the theme of resilience 鈥� from creating a robust farming business to developing personal mindfulness. The event will highlight how diverse ideas, perspectives and strategies can help farming businesses and communities thrive.
In our first session, two family farming pairs 鈥� parents and children working side-by-side on livestock and dairy farms 鈥� will share their experiences of succession, resilience and growth.
For our keynote, we鈥檙e delighted to welcome Hannah Jackson, better known as The Red Shepherdess. Hannah will share her personal journey into farming, including her appearance on Channel 4鈥檚 hit series SAS: Who Dares Wins.
We鈥檒l round off the evening with our popular Community Caf茅, where you can put your burning questions to the NFU鈥檚 policy and sector specialists 鈥� all while enjoying food and drink.
The evening promises thought-provoking conversation and plenty of opportunities to connect with fellow members.
How to register
To register your interest to attend this event, either:
- select the 'Register your interest' button below to automatically register, or
- 颁辞苍迟补肠迟听[email protected] by email, where a member of the team can assist you.听
Event programme
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4pm |
Registration opens 鈥� refreshments available听 |
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4:30pm - 4.45pm |
Welcome from NFU President Tom Bradshaw |
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4.45pm - 5.30pm |
Session 1: Tradition and Transition Parents and children working side-by-side on livestock and arable farms 鈥� share their experiences of succession, resilience and growth. This warm, honest session explores the dynamic between generations, from passing down time-honoured knowledge to embracing innovation.
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5.30pm - 5.45pm |
Break |
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5.45pm - 6.30pm |
Keynote: Hannah Jackson听 Known as The Red Shepherdess, Hannah shares her extraordinary journey into farming, from the Wirral to Cumbria and SAS: Who Dares Wins. In conversation with Tom Bradshaw, she鈥檒l explore resilience, mental health and forging your own path. |
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6.30pm - 8pm |
Community caf茅 Grab a bite to eat听 and network with NFU experts who can answer your business questions. |
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Event |
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Meet the speakers
Find out about the speakers taking the stage at Shed Talks LIVE:
Tom Bradshaw
NFU President
The home farm is based around arable production but has also diversified into equestrian and renewables.
Tom has represented the NFU from Local Branch Chairman through to Chair of the National Combinable Crops Board.
Tom was elected to the position of NFU President in February 2024.
Responsibilities
- Animal health and welfare incl. bTB
- Trade and standards
- Climate, energy and net zero
- Food supply chain (fair dealing, mergers and acquisitions, competition, regulation)
- Animal ID and movements
- Assurance review
- Taxation and fiscal policy
- Immigration
Hannah Jackson
NFU member
Coming from a non-farming background Hannah has charted her journey to become a farmer on social media and is a public speaker, occasional tv, writer, adventurer and photographer.
Hannah runs a 180-acre tenancy farm with 450 North Country Hill Cheviots.
She鈥檚 built a diverse business with sheep farming, border collie training, leadership workshops, a pumpkin patch and building a 38ft shepherds hut for farm stays.
Bizza Walters
NFU member NFU Student & Young Farmer Alumni
She farms pedigree Greyface Dartmoor sheep alongside a small flock of commercial Romneys, sharing her love for British farming and rural life on social media.
Richard Walters
NFU member
Richards farms 400 sheep and also operates a feed merchant operation business with Dengie and Rumenco, as well as holiday accommodation and fishing pools. He also enjoys growing giant vegetables.
John and Cathy Charles-Jones
NFU Members and Shed Talks LIVE hosts
Neither John nor Cathy were from a farming background, but this hasn鈥檛 stopped them from climbing the rungs of the farming ladder, culminating in the purchase of Woodborough Park (244ha) in 2004, albeit with Barclays Bank as a major shareholder.
John completed an HND in Agricultural Science in 1976 at the RAC (Royal Agricultural College) and within two years became a herd manager of 280 dairy cows in Gloucestershire. Before being appointed farm manager of the RAC home farm (240ha) in 1982. In 1989 John and Cathy were lucky to secure a contract-farming agreement in North Warwickshire on a 250ha dairy / arable farm, starting with a 120-cow dairy herd that subsequently expanded to 180 producing 1.5m litres. An additional 60ha of arable land was added in 1995. In 2000 the agreement ended with just 3-months' notice, due to a sudden change in estate policy.
John spent two years as a farm business consultant followed before studying full-time for an MBA in Wine Business Management in 2002-03, during which time John was awarded the Pinnacle Award for Excellence in Business Management in a competition sponsored by the Farmers Club and ADAS; (a certain - much younger - NFU President Tom Bradshaw came second!).
Having learned quickly that the grass is not always greener in other industries, this led to the totally unexpected tender and purchase of Woodborough Park in 2004, a ring-fenced mainly arable farm close to the urban fringe of Nottingham.
John represented Nottinghamshire on NFU Council from 2008 - 2023 and has been a member of the NFU鈥檚 Legal Board since 2020.