A YOUNG farmer and Hutchinsons agronomist has taken part in the Lord Mayor’s Show in London, and paraded past more than 500,000 people, as the National Famers Union, the Worshipful Company of Farmers, and New Holland joined together in order to showcase modern farming as a cutting-edge, forward thinking industry.

Ryan Came-Johnston took part as he wanted to send the message to the British public that it should support British farming.

He explained: “I was part of a team that paraded through the city with a New Holland combine harvester and T7.270 tractor. "We were there to help spread the #backbritishfarming message, and the spectacle of large machinery manoeuvring through the streets of the capital city drew a lot of attention from the public.

“What an incredible experience it was, it was so exciting to be part of something so positive for farming. I hope that we have shown to many young people that there are exciting careers available in agriculture, and that we are leading the way in producing good food for a thriving population, in a sustainable way.”

Came-Johnston was chosen in response to a twitter campaign, driven by the NFU, to find eight young farmers, all of who come from different farming backgrounds.

As well as working as a full-time agronomist for Hutchinsons, he holds a farm tenancy with Coodes Estate, in Porthleven near Helston, Cornwall, and will be lambing 330 ewes this coming spring.

He added: “I don’t come from a farming background, but after doing a degree in Bioveterinary Science, I wanted a slight change, but knew I wanted to work more directly in farming, and that’s when I decided to join the Hutchinsons Foundation programme, and train as an agronomist. I have now been working as an agronomist for five years.

“I was then offered the opportunity of taking up the tenancy at Trewithick Farm, and the opportunity to balance my agronomy responsibilities with farming in my own right, and I have never looked back.

"It gives me a very balanced view of the industry as I see farming from all angles both with my role as an agronomist and also as a farmer.”

“I hope that in taking the path that I have, and being in a highly visible situation such as the Lord Mayor’s Show, that I can encourage other young people to involve themselves in farming. I am proud to be backing British Farming and all that it stands for.”