Darcy's
Story.

Darcy Johnson

BSc (Hons) Agri-Food Marketing with Business

What was it that first drew you to Harper Adams University, Darcy?

Growing up in a farming family, the name Harper Adams had always been rumbling away in the background - whether meeting people who had studied there, or reading in the farming press about people who had been there.

I grabbed a prospectus at an early stage just to see what it had to offer, and from then on it was certainly on my radar as an option. Truth be told, I had high aspirations to go to a city-based university to study either agriculture or food science - I've grown up in the countryside all my life so the bright lights of the city somewhat appealed to me.

After many an open day, and a year out mulling the idea of university over, it was the course at Harper that grabbed me in the end, and the compulsory industry placement year that came with it.

This - along with the vibe and spirit I felt on the campus when I visited – meant I knew Harper Adams was right for me.

Great to know you felt you’d found your place here! Once you’d set your mind on university, what was it that drew you to your course?

I spent much of my adolescence unsure of exactly what I wanted to do, but one certainty had always been my engagement with agricultural and food sciences. Whether out in the fields on our family’s small beef and arable farm, or back in the kitchen preparing a meal with ingredients sourced from it, I’ve always been absorbed in the processes of where our food comes from, and the farm-to-fork chain that surrounds it.

I was lucky enough to secure some work experience with Morrisons Agricultural Team before University – and that expanded my knowledge of the exciting and innovative job roles available within the industry. The Morrisons team I worked with were not just Buyers and Animal Welfare Officers, but Sustainable Sourcing Specialists across livestock, poultry, and fisheries.

The combination of my long-standing curiosity in the agri-food supply chain with the amazing business experience I gained with Morrisons meant that when I saw the Agri-Food Marketing with Business course advertised at Harper, I grabbed the opportunity with both hands.

You mentioned the ‘vibe’ of Harper Adams appealing to you – what was it like the first time you visited?

I was pretty nervous - I remember that much - but Harper just had a home from home feeling - and everyone I spoke to and met was energetic and passionate about their studies and the social life they were having there.

Once you’d settled in – what kind of things did you find yourself doing as a Harper Adams student?

With the knowledge and confidence I gained over my first two years studying at Harper, I applied to become an NFU Student and Young Farmer Ambassador - and succeeded!

This was an absolutely fantastic insight into the greater workings of the NFU and exposure to agriculture and food policy, and the importance of lobbying and working closely with government.

Growing up at home, I knew we were NFU members, but I wasn't really involved in what that meant or looked like on a larger scale other than reading their magazine monthly.

This programme probably gave me a greater insight into the NFU than my farming parents have ever had, and it got me involved with the NFU Wiltshire county team at home, making my learning and experience tangible to the home farm.

I couldn't recommend the programme enough, and I can't recommend it enough to anyone just to find out a little bit more about the big things the NFU are doing, because it really is far more than just paying an annual membership for a magazine!

That’s fantastic! You mentioned the placement year as being a draw for you – how did you spend yours?

Placement was pretty awesome. I was lucky to secure a spot as a McDonald's Progressive Young Farmer, for which I was based with Moy Park, learning about the chicken supply chain.

I spent time in both Northern Ireland and Lincolnshire, as well as trips to Europe and Ireland to see farming and factory processes out there. The industry exposure this placement provided was phenomenal. Not just at Moy Park, but I got exposure to the other huge processors that supply ag-food commodities into the world’s biggest fast-food restaurant, as well as an insight into the inner workings of McDonald's itself. I don't think awesome cuts it!

These experiences put me in good stead when I successfully applied for a spot on the Tesco Future Farmer programme. I've just finished the nine-month programme, and yet again, it’s been a fantastic experience, learning from online lectures and in-person conferences across the UK about farming and the agri-food supply chains, with a focus on what the future of "sustainable" food production looks like.

It really sounds like you’ve drawn a lot from your time here!

Yes! It’s been fantastic to take my learnings back to the home farm - whether that's for energetic discussions round the kitchen table about different farming systems or creating spreadsheets to keep track of all the farm data more effectively than ever before.

Specific business and marketing modules were also very helpful on placement and will certainly be useful when I come to securing a graduate job!

Graduation’s pretty close for you now! What happens after that?

I want to go travelling before getting serious about adulting!

A Scandinavian road trip kicks me off first, before hopefully finding a bit of farm work in New Zealand for their summer, followed hopefully by a bit of backpacking in south America.

After that, yes - a graduate job beckons, and long-term, balancing an agri-food supply chain job with farming at home is the goal.

You’ve certainly packed a lot into your time at Harper! What would be your advice for someone hoping to follow in your footsteps?

Just do it.

If it feels right, go for it.

Throw yourself in.

The course and the things I've learnt at Harper have been brilliant - but the incredible people I've met and opportunities I've had have been what's made Harper the best four years of my life.