Future of Farming Theatre
The Future of Farming Theatre is an important feature of the Royal Three Counties Show.
More Useful Information
The Theatre provides specialist advice and support to farmers, land owners and those working within the agricultural sector and land-based professions through panel discussions on stage and hosted networking sessions over the three days of the show.
Business, environmental and personal sustainability and resilience form the heart of the Theatre, with expert insight speakers together with farmer case studies of business and technical excellence, coming together to share applicable, relevant, applied actions and technology.
Farming special guests join discussions or give talks on sage each year. The 2025 line-up will include: Farmer Will, Kaleb Cooper, Ally Hunter Blair and Adam Henson
The Future of Farming Theatre enables all visitors to enhance their knowledge of British agriculture and land management and provides a social space for farmers, agricultural and land based professionals at the show.
Don’t forget to register for your NORoSO and Basis points if you visit the area!
2024 Timetable
Take a look at the 2024 timetable below for an idea of the sessions that will be held in 2025.
| Friday | ||
| 9.00 | Networking hosted by FWAG SouthWest | |
| 9.20 | Welcome | |
| 9.30 | Local Nature Recovery and Biodiversity; making it work for you and the environment | Katy McGuinness, Head of Environmental Planning, Northern Europe, Lightsource bp Nicola Hillary, Gloucestershire Local Nature Partnership Manager Sarah Wells, Senior Farm Environment Advisor, FWAG SouthWest Chaired by Iwan Williams, Partner, Michelmores |
| 10.30 | Royal Three Counties Show Opening Ceremony & Long Service Awards | |
| 11.30 | Unlock the hidden potential of your farm assets Join us as we embark on a virtual farm tour with a panel of experts who can help you enhance your assets and create additional income |
Oliver Maxey, Regional Head of Agriculture – England, Virgin Money Hannah Moule, Founder and Planning Consultant, The Rural Planning Company Ben Allman, Partner and Head of Business Services, Ballards LLP Antony Pearce, Partner, Dudley Peverill Associates Stephen Kenyon, Regional Director Rural West England & Wales, Howden Chaired by Nicola Palmer, Marketing Manager, The Rural Planning Company |
| 12.30 | Networking hosted by The Rural Planning Company | |
| 13.00 | Using data trends to make decisions Using the data farmers collect and have access to, to make better business decisions |
Ben Thompson, Centre Manager, Hartpury Agri Tech Centre Ben Butler, Co-founder, Soil Benchmark Holly Shaw, Farmbench Manager, AHDB Chaired by Charles Day, Gloucestershire NFU |
| 14.00 | Networking hosted by Virgin Money | |
| 14:15 | Benefits to your business of being better for the environment Benefits to the farmer of reducing on-farm GHG emissions; how farmers can play their part and potentially monetise |
Brian Richardson, UK Head of Agriculture, Virgin Money
Hugh Martineau, Technical Director of Sustainability, Map of Ag Chaired by Charlie Ireland, CERES Rural |
| 15.00 | Cattle – part of the solution, not the problem | Dr Lisa Morgans, Vet and Senior Lecturer in Animal Health & Welfare, Royal Agricultural University Professor Jude Capper, ABP Chair of Sustainable Beef and Sheep Production, Harper Adams University Arran Redman, Soils and Natural Resources Advisor, Innovation for Agriculture and Royal Agricultural Society of England Chaired by Paul Westaway, Melview Farming |
| 16:00 | Farmers Club Members Only Reception | |
| Saturday | ||
| 9.50 | Welcome | |
| 10.00 | Water quality How we can improve water quality and our businesses |
David Johnson, Technical Director, Rivers Trust Ben Nott, Agri-supply chain lead, The Wye and Usk Foundation Billy Lewis, Farmer Chaired by Paul Westaway, Melview Farming |
| 11.00 | An audience with Matt Baker MBE | |
| 12.00 | Soil health What farmers can do and why it’s important to farm businesses as well as the environment |
Tim Hassell, Farming and Food Manager, Madresfield Estate
Arran Redman, Soils and Natural Resources Advisor, Innovation for Agriculture Chaired by Thomas Slaterry, UK Agri-Tech Centre |
| 13.00 | Succession; getting the right people to help you find the best way | Lucie Hammond, Partner, Hazlewoods Jon Johnson, Managing Director, Mountain Perspective Martin Waite, Business Development Consultant, Ashbridge Partners Chaired by Iain Morrison, Partner, MFG Solicitors LLP |
| 13.45 | Networking hosted by Lightsource pb | |
| 14.00 | Alternative land uses What are the options and what does this mean for you |
Declan Keiley, Head of Development, UK & Ireland, Lightsource bp Amy Watkins, Sustainability Project Manager, Agrii Will Masefield, Severn Treescapes Project Manager, Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust Graham Clark, Senior Planning Consultant, Berrys Kate Speke-Adams, Managing Director, Herefordshire Rural Hub |
| 14.45 | Positive messaging in agriculture; working with the public | Ruthie Peterson, Careers Manager, TIAH Ernie Richards, FarmerOliver Surman, Farmer Chaired by Iain Morrison, Partner, MFG Solicitors LLP |
| 15.30 | Young Farmers Club Reception | |
| 15.45 | Positive messaging in agriculture; getting to grips with social media | Ally Hunter-Blair, Farmer Karl Franklin, The Pretend Farmer Ben Andrews, Farmer Ben |
| 16.30 | Screening of documentary feature film ‘Six inches of Soil’ | |
| Sunday | ||
| 10.20 | Welcome and Young Farmers Club Reception | |
| 10.30 | Getting into and growing your farming business Looking at different business models to grow success |
Jill Hewitt, CEO, The National Association of Agricultural Contractors Ernie Richards, Farmer Paul Westaway, Melview Farming Tara Best, Bennetts Farm Shop Martin Waite, Business Development Consultant, Ashbridge Partners Chaired by Nick Dee, TCAS Council |
| 11.15 | An audience with Kaleb Cooper | |
| 12.15 | Developing ourselves and those we work with for better resilience and mental health | Gemma Johnson, Director, Mountain Perspective Ben Andrews, Farmer Ben Rachael Chamberlayne, FarmerChaired by Chris Lloyd |
| 13.00 | John Craven Q&A and Book Signing | |
| 13.45 | Getting into Agriculture
Developing your career in the diversity of agricultural roles and getting none-farmers into agriculture |
Jonathan Powell, Agricultural Business Manager, Virgin Money British Racing School Helen Brookes, Engagement Director, UK Agri-Tech CentreCarol Bramhill, British Racing School Andrea Leach, Cotteswold Dairy Chaired by Ally Hunter-Blair, Farmer |
| 14.45 | JB Gill – an audience with and book signing | |
| 15.45 | Screening of documentary feature film ‘Six inches of Soil’ |
If you would like to be involved in the Future of Farming Theatre, please email Alice Arnold.
If you would like updates about the Future of Farming Theatre as we draw closer to the show please complete the form here.
