Growing our understanding of rural culture

Schools in Jersey have had the opportunity to meet representatives from the agriculture and horticulture industries, from Jersey and the UK, to gain a deeper understanding of the island’s rural culture.

Children, Young People, Education and Skills officials and a number of secondary schools attended a recent event organised by the Royal Jersey Agricultural and Horticultural Society, which gave students a chance to meet and question growers and food producers.

Education Minister, Senator Tracey Vallois, said: "Well done to all involved in the first Cultivate Young Minds programme and particularly to our students, or ‘Cultivate Ambassadors’, who showed great interest and engagement in the event and were a credit to the schools they were representing.

"It is hugely important that agriculture can be made more accessible within the local curriculum and this event was a fantastic opportunity to showcase this industry to young people who are considering a variety of career opportunities."

Group Director for Education, Seán O’ Regan, praised the Cultivate Young Minds programme, which gave the students a chance to hear from speakers including the RJAHS president Rob Perchard and Cambridgeshire farmer Tom Martin, who founded the Facetime a Farmer project that pairs farmers and schools using video calls.

A variety of career routes into the agriculture and horticulture industries are already being promoted in schools by Skills Jersey, whose skills coaches were at the Cultivate Young Minds event to help young people make the most out of the programme.

Mr O’Regan said: "The Cultivate Young Minds event was a fantastic opportunity for students to understand more about our rural culture and the career opportunities in this sector. We look forward to working closely with the Royal Jersey Agricultural and Horticultural Society in promoting cultural learning in our schools."