Local students awarded Cornish Mutual Young Farmer Bursaries

Now in their third year, the Cornish Mutual Young Farmer Bursaries were expanded in 2023 to include opportunities for both further and higher education students, as well as introducing the overall student of the year award.

Isabella Rhodes, a BSc student at Duchy College, won the top award while also receiving a Cornish Mutual Young Farmer Higher Education Bursary.

Isabella is an active Young Farmer and currently chairs the Cornwall Federation of Young Farmers Clubs Agriculture group. Having already completed a placement with a genetics company, Isabella is keen to pursue a career in bovine genetics.

In her application, Isabella said: “When I am not studying I split my time between work and Young Farmers Club, there is not a second of my waking day when I’m not thinking about agriculture in some form.”

Fellow Duchy College student Henry Matthews, a Level 2 Land-based engineering student, received a Cornish Mutual Young Farmer Further Education Bursary. Henry grew up on his family’s beef and sheep farm where he has a herd of pedigree Texel sheep. An active Young Farmer, Henry was recently elected Junior Vice Chairman of his local Young Farmer Club.

In Somerset, University Centre Somerset BSc Agricultural Management student Zoe Stanbury was awarded a higher education bursary. Zoe has keen plans to put her bursary towards short courses, such as an ATV certificate and first aid course, which could make her more employable.

Another Somerset student, Olivia Parker, received a further education bursary. Olivia is a Level 3 Agriculture course at Bridgwater & Taunton College’s Cannington Campus, and despite not coming from a farming background, she is determined to build a career in agriculture.

Oscar Wallace-Cook, a Level 3 Agriculture student at Bicton College, was also awarded a further education bursary. The judges said Oscar stood out for his ambition to run his own dairy enterprise, demonstrated by his commitment to both his academic studies and work experience on a local dairy and beef farm.

Kingston Maurward College student, Lola Strawbridge, received a further education bursary for demonstrating her commitment to building a career in the dairy industry. Having grown up on a farm, the Level 3 Agriculture student is a keen advocate of the farming lifestyle and hopes to encourage others to find a love for it too.

“We were once again delighted to receive a number of high-quality applications for our bursaries,” said Peter Beaumont, Cornish Mutual Managing Director.  “All of this year’s bursary recipients displayed their passion for the industry and a determination to play a positive role in the future of agriculture.”

The Cornish Mutual Young Farmer Bursaries are part of the Future Farming Programme, which supports the future of agriculture in the region. To find out more, visit: https://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/cmfuturefarming/young-farmer-bursaries/