6 reasons to get involved with our hunt for Rising Stars

Farmers Weekly’s search for the Rising Stars of the UK agricultural, food and environmental industries is hotting up, but there is still time to nominate yourself or someone you know.

We’ve teamed up with the Woodland Trust to hunt for a range of individuals aged 18-35 who are making a real impact in their field and are ones to watch for the future.

We want to find people who are really making a mark and setting themselves apart from their peers with their innovation, drive and focus on beating the challenges they face, while seizing the opportunities that come their way.

See also: Read more about Rising Stars 2017

Our aim is to recognise and promote the talents of the next generation of farmers, agricultural and food chain professionals, academics, researchers, environmentalists and scientists.

Here are 6 reasons why you should get involved now:

1 Recognition

If you work with someone you really admire, what better way to demonstrate this than by nominating them as a Rising Star?

Even if their first reaction is a modest blush of embarrassment, they will be pleased that you rate them so highly.

Or perhaps you are thinking of nominating yourself. Our advice is just do it. There’s nothing wrong with being proud of your achievements.

2 Networking

All 2017 Rising Stars winners will receive a free ticket to the Agroforestry 2017 Conference at Cranfield University, Bedfordshire, on 22 June.

It will be a great day with a packed programme of speakers and plenty of chances to meet new contacts and learn from the experts.

Farmers Weekly will also be there to stage a photoshoot and videoshoot with the winning group.

3 CV extra

Being picked as a Rising Star is always going to be a valuable talking point on your CV. It could be the key to a promotion or a move to your dream job. Alternatively, it could be what persuades a family member to give you the extra responsibility you’ve been craving.

4 Open doors

Being named a Rising Star has the potential to open doors in ways that you can’t imagine. You may get invited to host a farm visit, or speak at a prestigious industry event, or attend a conference that changes how you think about a critical issue or results in that career-changing introduction over a coffee. It’s hard to predict what will happen, but we anticipate good things.

5 Model behaviour

The winners will all be included in a special feature in Farmers Weekly in July using the pictures we get at the professional photoshoot at the Agroforestry conference.

We’ll be looking to show you off at your best, so big smiles as the camera clicks, please. This will be one photoshoot that friends and family will be proud to see.

6 Confidence boost

When you’ve been picked as a Rising Star by our highly respected panel of judges then it has to be a real confidence builder.

The judges will include Farmers Weekly editorial director Karl Schneider and consultant and director of mentoring for the Henry Plumb Foundation, Phillip Wynn. They are hugely successful in their own fields and know what it takes to be a Rising Star.