VICTORIA Robertshaw, founder of Keelham Farm Shop, Skipton, and now owner of Delicious Planet Consultancy, will share her entrepreneurial success story during a live streamed virtual debate to help fuel the ambitions of Yorkshire’s next generation of farming leaders.

For the first time, the Future Farmers of Yorkshire, a network supported by the Yorkshire Agricultural Society to bring together younger farmers, vets and industry professionals, will broadcast its annual autumn debate online on the evening of Wednesday, November 11.

It will offer ‘top tips for keeping an entrepreneurial mindset’ and will see hugely diverse experiences of entrepreneurial success shared by a panel of businessmen and women from the worlds of farm retail, business consultancy, pollination control and auctioneering.

In addition to Victoria Robertshaw, will be Hannah Senior, a Nuffield Scholar and Managing Director of PBS International; Charlotte Wells-Thompson, co-owner of the award-winning Bert’s Barrow Farm Shop in Hillam near Leeds; and Tom Best, Auctioneer and Art Advisor at The Auction Collective.

The Future Farmers of Yorkshire brings together some of the best thought leaders and cutting-edge industry professionals to share expertise throughout the food supply chain with its 1,000-plus members.

Sponsored by GSC Grays and Yorkshire Bank, the debate will be chaired by Charlotte Middlebrook, a primary school teacher and member of the Future Farmers’ Management Board, and viewers will be invited to submit questions to the panel.

She said: “Like many industries, farming is facing a challenging period of change and so it is important we feel equipped to look ahead with renewed vigour and ambition. With an entrepreneurial mindset, the challenges before us can bring exciting new opportunities for rural enterprises.

“In this spirit, we come together for our Autumn Debate as we, the Future Farmers of Yorkshire, press on with our mission to develop the best of Yorkshire’s farmers to be the leaders of UK agriculture.

“We will discuss what having an entrepreneurial mindset means, and will run through tips, tricks and lessons learnt by the collective experience of our panel, as we hear first-hand how they have converted their own challenges into beneficial opportunities.”

Brian Richardson, UK head of agriculture at Yorkshire Bank said: “The Future Farmers Autumn Debate comes at a vital time for UK Agriculture, with a massive amount of change happening in the sector.

“The effects of these changes will be felt for many years so it’s important that the industry’s future leaders are informed and are involved in discussions to ensure the continued success of the sector.

“Yorkshire Bank is pleased to support this event - I look forward to an interesting evening and hearing from the speakers.”

James Severn, Rural Director of GSC Grays added: “Our aim, as farmers and professionals alike, must be to navigate this period of adjustment successfully, creating economically and environmentally sustainable farming businesses as part of a forward-thinking agricultural industry.

“Achieving this will demand from us all, creative thinking, an ability to take tough decisions where change is needed and perhaps, above all, to think differently to make the future happen. The theme of the Future Farmers’ Autumn Debate is the perfect starting point for this journey.”

Join the Future Farmers of Yorkshire on November 11 at 7.30pm for the group’s autumn debate by registering your details via www.yas.co.uk/future-farmers-autumn-debate