RURAL DIVERSITY and inclusion took the spotlight at an Oxford Farming Conference fringe event held before lockdown.

The event - organised by The RSA Food, Farming and Countryside Commission and AgRespect – was attended by over 150 delegates, who enthusiastically engaged in an open debate about how farming and rural communities could become more embracing of diversity.

In an effort to engage the industry on rural diversity, the OFC has now launched the session online, as part of its #OFCbitesize series which can be viewed here https://www.ofc.org.uk/conference/2020/videos

The presentation Includes six powerful speakers, each with inspiring stories exploring aspects of diversity and acceptance. They include a young gay woman who had considered suicide because she felt she couldn’t tell her parents about her sexuality.

The 2020 OFC Chairman, Matt Naylor, emphasised the importance of conversations around diversity and inclusion within the rural community and praised the OFC for how far it has come from its past reputation for being middle-aged, grey and ‘gammon’.

“Since I first joined the board of the OFC, I really wanted to start a conversation about how diversity is a positive thing,” said Mr Naylor who is also the founder of Agrespect. “The best way to solve a problem is to look at it from as many perspectives as possible so we have tried hard to get representation from a lot of talented people who don’t fit the traditional mould of those in the farming industry.

“Many people feel you have to conform to a stereotype in order to fit into agriculture, this really isn’t true,” he continued. “I realised from my own experience that feeling able to be completely open about my sexuality has meant that I can contribute to the industry more authentically and to better effect. This was one of the main drivers for Agrespect, we wanted to show that agriculture can be a rewarding and welcoming career for everyone.”

Director of the RSA Food, Farming and Countryside Commission, Sue Prichard, added: “A divided and polarised society is getting in the way of tackling the critical issues in front of us – from the climate and nature crises to increasing mental and physical ill-health in communities. But we’re all at risk of feeling disconnected, whether through things like race or sexuality, or through feeling that you simply don’t ‘belong’ anymore…challenging prejudices, breaking down barriers, restoring empathy and compassion, these things matter now more than ever, and our speakers have all shown how they are bringing the kind of leadership we need,” she explained.

An upland farmer’s daughter, Lydia Slack, gave a raw insight into her story. “I knew that I liked girls when I was 10 years old but couldn’t imagine any way that I could live the life that I knew I wanted.”

She described how she had considered marrying a man, having children and ignoring him as well as committing suicide. Eventually, she told her Mum that she was gay, and is now engaged to her fiancé, Amelia; the couple now live on Lydia’s family farm and, together, they plan to take on a farm tenancy.

“Thinking back to when I was 10 years old, I could never have dreamed that I would be living the life that I am, and I owe a great debt of gratitude to Agrespect.”