Ben meets farmer and entrepreneur Chris Dickinson from Cumbria. Chris has wide interests and wears many hats in ag.
Today we’re in Cumbria to meet farmer and entrepreneur Chris Dickinson. Chris is involved with a number of different businesses, with a particular emphasis on the poultry industry but by no means exclusively. For example, one of his businesses is a goat meat business based on his family’s farm. Chris is a board member of the Wagyu Breeders Association; he’s a member of the Yorkshire Future Farmers Association, The Tesco Future Farm Foundation and has been a scholar with the Henry Plumb Foundation.
About Ben
Ben Eagle is the founder and Head of Podcasts at RuralPod Media, a specialist rural podcast production agency. He is also a freelance rural affairs and agricultural journalist. You can find out more at ruralpodmedia.co.uk or benjamineagle.co.uk
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A-Plan Rural Insurance
This episode is sponsored by our primary sponsor A Plan Rural.
Show References
Image credit: Chris Dickinson
Timestamps
00:27 Ben introduces the show.
01:25 Chris comes in.
01:50 Chris balances many hats - how does he manage this?
04:22 Chris's upbringing.
05:00 Newcastle.
06:10 Chris's enjoyment and interest in poultry.
07:23 Chris's time at the NFU.
10:09 Chris's entrepreneurial side - key figures who have inspired him - turkey farmer Derek Kelly especially.
12:43 Sponsor message for A Plan Rural Insurance.
13:28 Chris's family farm and the context behind it.
16:38 Goats.
20:22 The goat meat market and where Chris's meat is going.
22:04 Message from RuralPod Media.
22:54 Chris's wider business hat and his involvement with other businesses.
25:36 Chris's future and what he wants to do next.
27:36 Broader farming issues - challenges currently.
29:32 Egg crisis
30:45 Optimistic for the future?
33:39 'Farmers need to be nicer to each other'.
35:04 New podcast - Three Pronged.
37:00 Ben rounds up.