Meet the Farmers

In this episode of Meet the Farmers, host Ben Eagle speaks with Erin McNaught, a fourth-generation farmer in North Wales. Erin shares her journey of taking over the family farm at a young age, the challenges of farming in a rugged landscape, and the balance between education and agricultural responsibilities. She highlights the importance of family legacy and the support from her grandfather in re...

In this episode Ben speaks with Sam Walton, the Livestock Manager at Cotswold Farm Park. Sam shares his journey from growing up on a family farm in Cheshire to his current role, emphasizing the importance of public engagement and education in farming. He discusses his experiences in New Zealand, insights on agritourism, and the significance of mental health awareness in the agricultural sector. Sa...

In this third episode of Meet the Farmers: The Big Debate hosts Ally Hunter Blair and Sophie Gregory give their reaction to the recent Budget. They are joined by Yorkshire farmer Paul Temple and Editor of Farmers Guardian Olivia Midgley. Chris Coupland from Birketts also offers his initial appraisal of the budget.  They also talk about Open Farm Sunday and some news stories from the past fortnight...

We talk fitness on the show today. Does farming need a new fitness culture? Ben is joined by Paul Norton who has driven farm machinery across the world and is on a mission to get farmers fit.  🎧 Subscribe to Meet the Farmers wherever you get your podcasts, and follow us on social media @RuralPodMedia for updates and behind-the-scenes content.  Meet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the o...

In this episode of Meet the Farmers, host Ben Eagle speaks with Richard Cornock, known as The Funky Farmer, about his experience in dairy farming and his journey as a pioneering YouTuber. They discuss the challenges faced by farmers, including inheritance tax, the volatility of the dairy market, and the importance of community among farmers. Rich shares insights from his 40 years in the industry,...

In this second episode of Meet the Farmers: The Big Debate hosts Ally Hunter Blair and Sophie Gregory turn to the topic of climate as COP30 kicks off in Brazil. They are joined by Brazilian agricultural journalist Marianna Grilli and Professor Tim Benton to explore the subject. They also discuss cheese awards, Christmas trees and why Sophie is recording in an ironing cupboard in Denmark.  🎧 Subsc...

In this second episode Ben reveals more of his trip to Kenya. He interviews the Congress Director Aghan Daniel to set the scene for the congress in Nairobi. He also dives into issues such as women in farming in Kenya and takes listeners behind the scenes at the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organisation (KALRO).  Make sure you listen to episode 1 to make the most of this episode.  🎧 S...

Ben travels to Kenya in this episode as part of the Alltech Young Leader Programme and the International Federation of Agricultural Journalists annual congress, which takes place in a different country each year. In this episode he speaks to his fellow young leaders to discover more about agriculture in their respective countries.  🎧 Subscribe to Meet the Farmers wherever you get your podcasts, a...

In this episode, host Ben Eagle speaks with Jack Bradley, a first-generation dairy farmer in Iceland. Jack shares his unique journey from the UK to Iceland, detailing his experiences in the military, a pivotal holiday in Kavos that indirectly sparked his interest in farming, and his time working in New Zealand. He discusses the cultural differences between the UK and Iceland, the challenges of her...

Join new co-hosts of The Big Debate series Sophie Gregory and Ally Hunter Blair in the very first episode of "Meet the Farmers: The Big Debate." Dive into discussions on sustainability, the impact of climate change on farming, and the quirky issue of 'snail farming' in Westminster. Sophie and Ally reflect on how the farming community is adapting to new challenges and opportunities, with insights i...

In this episode of Meet the Farmers , Ben sits down with Charlotte Ashley, a farmer, podcaster, and prominent countryside content creator, who shares her journey into farming, farming life today, and the power of social media to bridge the gap between rural and urban communities. We’ll also dive into Charlotte’s role as a content creator and her thoughts on the “influencer” label, as well as her p...

In this special episode of the podcast Ben announces the launch of a brand new ongoing current affairs series on the podcast, with two new hosts joining the Meet the Farmers team!   🎧 Subscribe to Meet the Farmers wherever you get your podcasts, and follow us on social media @RuralPodMedia for updates and behind-the-scenes content.  Meet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the only special...

In this heartfelt episode, Michael Kavanagh shares his journey of grief following the tragic loss of his daughter Eleanor in January 2025. He discusses the challenges faced by his family, the importance of community support, and the promise he made to Eleanor to live a life well lived.  On Sunday 26th January 2025, 2 year old, Eleanor and her big sister Fiona, went to bed like any other night. The...

In this episode of Meet the Farmers, host Ben Eagle speaks with Ian Pullen, a beef farmer from Wotton Under Edge, Gloucestershire. Ian shares his journey into farming, the challenges he faces with TB in cattle, and how he has successfully integrated YouTube into his farming business. He discusses the importance of diversification, the direct sales model for his beef, and the future of farming amid...

In this episode, Ben Eagle visits Thomas Gent, a fourth-generation farmer from the Lincolnshire-Cambridgeshire border. Thomas, his father and grandfather have transitioned the family farm to regenerative agriculture methods since 2008. Thomas is also the founder of Gentle Farming. The conversation covers Thomas' personal journey into farming, the transition to regenerative practices, the role of i...

In this episode of Meet the Farmers, host Ben Eagle speaks with Bronagh Dempster, a passionate new entrant from Northern Ireland. Bronagh shares her journey into farming, her education at Queen's University Belfast, and her experiences working on a dairy farm. She discusses the challenges and opportunities facing the dairy industry, her involvement in the Nuffield Next Gen scholarship, and her asp...

Ben is sent on farm harvest reviews from a number of UK farmers who are also former guests of the show. To say harvest 2025 was disappointing for many UK farmers is an understatement for many.  We'd love to hear or read your experiences of harvest this year wherever you are in the world - please add your thoughts in the comments.  Huge thanks to all our farmer contributors - Richard Heady, Rebecca...

In this episode of Meet the Farmers, host Ben Eagle speaks with Miranda Webster from Webster's Rural about the challenges and opportunities in recruitment within the professional and farm manager side of the agricultural and rural sectors. They discuss the evolving landscape post-Brexit and post-pandemic, the importance of attracting and retaining talent, and the skills that are currently in deman...

In episode 307 of Meet the Farmers , Ben travels (virtually) to western Victoria, Australia to talk with Tara, a third-generation sheep and mixed crop farmer working alongside her family. Tara runs Australian White and Primeline sheep, and is passionate about balancing productivity with long-term sustainability. She shares how responsibilities are divided on the farm, the role of technology in the...

In this episode of Meet the Farmers, Ben Eagle speaks with beef and sheep farmer James Warwick from north Cornwall about how he moved to Cornwall from Cambridgeshire to live with his grandparents and learn to farm. He now farms South Devon cattle and 350–400 ewes. James shares his passion for farming, financial challenges of farming and the mental strain it can sometimes bring.  We talk about: The...

In this week’s episode of Meet the Farmers , Ben Eagle is joined by Shane and Val Wallis, who run a family farm in Indiana in the United States raising Shorthorn cattle alongside corn, beans, and hay. Shane and Val share insights into their day-to-day operation, why Shorthorns are important for them and the story of their farm. They reflect on the unique challenges and rewards of farming in their...

To support the project visit reMooable Energy - Our Cow Molly goes electric - a Environment crowdfunding project in Sheffield by sarah.galligan@ecofit.uk For more info on Our Cow Molly visit - Our Cow Molly – Farm Shop & Ice Cream Parlour Eddie last featured on episode 12 of the podcast!   🎧 Subscribe to Meet the Farmers wherever you get your podcasts, and follow us on social media @RuralPodMedia...

In this episode, Ben Eagle is joined by David Exwood, Deputy President of the National Farmers’ Union (NFU), who farms over 1,200 tenanted hectares just south of Horsham in West Sussex. David shares insights from his multi-enterprise farming business—featuring arable, beef, sheep, and a farm shop—as well as his leadership journey within the NFU. They discuss: David’s farming background and philoso...

In this episode of Meet the Farmers , Ben Eagle explores how SMART farming is reshaping the UK dairy sector. From herd management to sustainability and automation, Ben is joined by a panel of farmers and agri-tech experts to discuss how digital tools, data, and intelligent systems are helping dairy businesses become more efficient, resilient, and future-ready. Together, the panel examines real-lif...

In this episode, Ben travels across the pond to Alvin, Texas, to meet Tyler Froberg — a fourth-generation farmer and agri-influencer who is reshaping how people connect with agriculture. Tyler shares the story of his family’s farm, Froberg Farms, which started with just 22 acres of strawberries in 1936 and has now grown into the largest “You-Pick” strawberry farm in Texas. Tyler talks about his pa...