Talk Farm episode two: The role of agricultural shows in sustaining rural life

The second episode of Talk Farm, the podcast brought to you by our Agriculture and Estates team, is here. Partner Rory Hutchings is joined this month by Aled Jones, Chief Executive Officer of the Royal Welsh Agricultural Society.

The Royal Welsh show has been held in its namesake country since 1904 and is today one of the largest shows in Europe.

It continues to thrive under Aled’s leadership, who tells Rory,

“We’re so lucky as an event… it’s that week of the year where everybody comes together. I remember growing up on the family farm at home and everything happened either before or after the Royal Welsh – you got the harvest done, you got your jobs done.

The Royal Welsh Show was a week sacrosanct… there’s something really special about that and I want to try and protect and maintain the essence of the show.”

During the episode, conversation ranges from the role of agricultural shows in combatting loneliness and helping farmers overcome adversity, to how they have encouraged financial resilience, innovation and diversification over the centuries.

In increasingly turbulent times for agriculture and landed estates, Talk Farm sets out to identify the human impacts of legal and political developments, offering industry commentary and practical guidance that cuts through the noise.

You can listen to episodes one and two on all major streaming services, including Spotify and Apple Podcasts.