From mud pies to cowpat discus, I loved every second of being brought up in a farming setting and give all the credit for who I am today to those who surrounded me in the process.
Darcy Johnson, 21
Lives on a small beef and arable farm in Devizes, Wiltshire
Currently in her 2nd year at Harper Adams University studying Agri-Food Marketing with Business
As much as home means so much to me, the pressure of school and thought of what on earth I wanted to do with my life started to grow, and as did my eagerness to get out into the world and see what was waiting beyond the Wiltshire borders.
While my friends aspired to be doctors and space engineers, I could feel my preference for agricultural and food sciences, I was just completely unsure of what to do with it.
After my last year of A Levels was cut short in 2020 due to the pandemic outbreak, I chose to take a year out of studies in the hope Covid-19 would blow over how naïve I was.
As my dreams of working and backpacking in New Zealand were slowly squashed (for now at least), Covid-19 provided new unforeseen opportunities elsewhere.
I securedmyself a job at a local Morrisons supermarket working in a supervisor role within the home delivery department, as well as some work experience with the Morrisons Agricultural Team.
This hugely expanded my knowledge of the exciting and innovative job roles available within the industry.
The combination of my long-standing curiosity in the agri-food supply chain and the amazing business experience I gained with Morrisons meant that when I saw the Agri-Food Marketing with Business course advertised at Harper Adams, I grabbed the opportunity with both hands.
My university experience so far has been an absolute joy, and as I am sure many of you can relate to, time in my twenties is flying far quicker than I can keep up with.
As well as getting stuck into my course, I have also taken up the position of Harpers Womens Rugby Secretary and the Students Unions Sports and Societies Representative.
This is something I am really enthusiastic about and I cannot wait to apply the same enthusiasm in my new role as an NFU Student and Young Farmer Ambassador.
Through the Ambassador programme, I would love to help achieve more agricultural involvement within schools.
I think raising awareness of food production through education is pivotal in tackling the many national and global issues we currently face.
Whether that is getting into schools to speak directly to pupils, or generating media content that can be used in schools, I believe there is no better time than now to reconnect people, especially young people, with the food they eat.
