Edward Evans was looking for a new challenge after a successful career as a freelance tree surgeon. He wanted to advance his career in the agricultural sector after gaining experience in the land management, agriculture, and arboriculture industries, “I felt like university and agriculture were calling me”, he says.
When Ed visited Hartpury for the NAF Five Star International Horse Trials, he was inspired by the campus and on-site farm, and he soon applied to Hartpury to undertake the BSc Agricultural Degree, “I chose the BSc Agriculture degree because it gave me an insight into all areas of agriculture”, Ed said.
You don’t need an agricultural background to study at Hartpury; you just need the passion and drive to make a difference in a fast-changing industry. Throughout Ed’s degree, he was taught through a combination of on-site practical and theoretical lessons covering topics such as agricultural technologies, farm business management, agricultural policy, livestock science and husbandry, as well as supply chain management.
For Ed, his favourite part of the degree was learning about agricultural technology, he adds “when I’m working with the machinery, I’m at my best.”
Ed wasn’t from a farming family, but that didn’t matter. Students go on field trips as part of their degree to learn about various techniques and technological advancements in agriculture, ranging from seed trials to robotic dairy farms. Hartpury helped Ed discover the wide range of agricultural roles available, from supply chain management to cutting-edge agricultural technology.
Ed said: “The course was brilliant. It was a good balance of theory and hands-on experience. It may not be practical every day, but you see all aspects of agriculture in action.”
Ed found that the lecturers, on-campus commercial farm which supplies Muller, Sainsbury’s, and Glencore, and the £2 million Agri-Tech Centre all helped prepare him for life after graduation. He has returned to Devon since graduating in 2021 to work as a sales showroom consultant at Masons Kings, the South West’s leading John Deere dealership. Specialising in products such as industry-leading tractor range, combine harvesters, gator utility vehicles, and more.
Ed is currently assisting with sales and consulting for John Deere and Stihl equipment. He assists in customer support by meeting his clients’ needs for agricultural and garden machinery.
If undertaking a degree in agriculture seems like the next step in your journey you can get in touch with Hartpury here.
About Hartpury University:
Hartpury is a specialist educational provider located in Gloucestershire with almost 4,500 college and university level students studying PhDs, postgraduate and undergraduate degrees, and diplomas in the areas of sport, equine, animal, agriculture and veterinary nursing, and A-levels.
Hartpury, located close to Gloucester and Cheltenham, is the only institution in the UK with a college and university on one campus, meaning college students benefit from access to university-level expertise, facilities, and opportunities.
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