Will’s World: Six invaluable things I’d tell my younger self

I recently attended this year’s graduation ceremony at Harper Adams, because I’m a very fancy governor there, don’t you know.

I spent most of the afternoon feeling slightly disgruntled because I didn’t get to wear one of the brightly coloured robes and mad hats that all the academics sport with such flamboyance and panache on these occasions.

See also: Cumbrian contractor cuts costs with revamped retro tractors

Apparently, a humble HND in agriculture (with merit, by the way) doesn’t qualify you to wear one. You’d think a flat cap or something in Harper colours would be available at the very least. Maybe next year.

Nevertheless, it was the most joyous of occasions, and I felt utterly privileged to be there.

School of life

I’m not sure which I enjoyed the most – seeing all those youthful and excited faces striding across the stage to accept their various qualifications as their names were called out, or witnessing their emotional parents beaming with pride at their offspring’s achievements.

Either way, it left me feeling tremendously uplifted and hopeful for the future of our industry and community, and I have no doubt that the class of 2025 will go on to do great things. Congratulations to you all.

Almost unfathomably, to me, it’s been 23 years since I was a graduate myself, and I couldn’t help but let my mind drift back to that memorable day, half my lifetime ago now.

I loved my time at Harper more than most, and made the best of lifelong friends there.

It broadened my horizons, gave me much-needed confidence and self-belief, and I often wonder how different my life would have looked if I hadn’t made the decision to go there.

I have no doubt that it wouldn’t have been half as interesting, and certainly far less fun.

I probably wouldn’t have met the present Mrs Evans, either, so life would have been a lot more peaceful. Swings and roundabouts, as they say.

Student counsel

As I sat there clapping away, I began to ponder what advice I’d have to give, knowing what I know now, to that fresh-faced and naive young man of yesteryear as he prepared to set off on his farming journey.

1. Take every opportunity to put yourself out of your comfort zone and challenge yourself. There are many incredible programmes in agriculture that you won’t have heard of yet, but keep your eyes and ears open for them – the experiences and people you meet will change your life.
2. Look after your physical and mental health better than you do now. One day they’ll both jump up and bite you, and you should be prepared. You can get through it, and you will, but be ready – it’ll make the process far easier.
3. Be relentlessly you. People will try to put you in a box, and criticise you for thinking and doing differently, but trust yourself and be proud of who you are. Social media doesn’t exist yet, but when it does, see that for the perils of tedious group think.
4. Take inspiration from individuals who’ve taken risks with their businesses. The farmers you’ll admire the most will be those who haven’t cared what others think of them – they’ve just got on and done it, and succeeded through sheer force of will.
5. Spend as much time as possible with the people you love the most, and tell them how much they mean to you before it’s too late.
6. And finally, as it’s 2009, stick a few grand into something called Bitcoin. If you don’t listen to the rest of this advice, for the love of God, trust me on this one.