AgriChatUK was started on the 7th April 2011 as the first UK based agricultural hashtag to facilitate discussions amongst farmers on Twitter. Almost a year later in March 2012, a team was formed to organise and host weekly discussions for the growing community. Since then there has been a discussion every week plus some extras like the AgriChatWold collaboration and one off specials for crises such as bovine TB.
See how it all began from day one on Twitter.
The aim of #AgriChatUK is to give everyone involved in agriculture a place to share ideas, discuss pressing issues, debate hot topics or simply to connect with people in the industry who they may otherwise not have access to.
Founders
Edward Morgan – @edmogfw
Grew up on a sheep farm in South Wales, Edward, currently works for Farmers Weekly and is based in London. With an interest in farming and the web, Edward is passionate about the future of the industry and how digital technologies are helping drive things forward.
Something everybody knows about me: He is Welsh. He is also known to support Swansea and Arsenal.
Something not many people know about me: Edward started AgriChatUK while chatting to a bunch of farmers one evening on Twitter.
Charles Tassell – @farminkent
Farming on the edge of the Weald of Kent, the garden of England. Arable crops, apples, beef and sheep on environmental areas, plus now growing raspberries in tunnels.
Something not many people know about me: Charles can do the Rubik Cube. His record is 2 ½ minutes. In November 2012 he took part in the DePaul young people’s charity Guinness record attempt at the O2 for the most people doing a Rubik cube at the same time. They broke the record : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nFwD7VLYZcQ
Something everybody knows about me: He loves gadgets! He’s normally wearing or carrying some sort on new technology.
Simon Haley – @halo42
29 year old rural business and social media adviser, focused on the strategic elements of farm business management and development. Bsc (Hons) Agribusiness and MSc International Agribusiness degrees from Harper Adams University. Wrote a 20,000 word MSc thesis in 2013 on “the value of social media for rural business”. Organiser of “Twitter in the Farmyard” in May 2013, the industry’s inaugural conference on social media, and creator of the @FarmersOfTheUK account.
Simon joined the #AgriChatUK team in March 2012 with Charles, Jez and Ed, and hosted the 1st Thursday evening session. Regular host ever since, and takes key responsibility for strategic direction, and public speaking and presentations at national rural shows and events.
Something not many people know about me: Simon is from a non-farming background, and his first experience of working in the industry was on a gap year spent on cattle stations and sheep properties in Australia in 2004.
Something everybody knows about me: He is most happy when trying to juggle a number of different projects and activities!
Hosts
Will Wilson – @willwilson100
Short biog- After graduating Reading University Will spent a year driving combines in Australia, he then completed the MDS management programme managing farms across the UK and Europe. Will has had several jobs since including a stint in journalism, he now works as a business development manager for Bock UK.
Something you don’t know about me: He was due to be on a beach in Southern India the day the Tsunami hit in 2004. Fortunately for him the bus broke down and the trip was cancelled an hour before he was due to leave.
He also very nearly joined the AC/DC tour in Australia as a ‘roady’….
Something everybody knows about me: Will set up www.farmingseflies.com after copying the idea from the Irish Farmers Journal. The website went viral and has been featured in media all over the world.
All topics are run from the @AgriChatUK Twitter account which is managed by the team.
