Michael is a dedicated and passionate advocate for mental health awareness and the farming industry.
He is the co-founder of Just Talk Agri – a mental health awareness initiative that raises awareness through social media campaigns, promotional materials and the media. Messages reassure individuals that it's okay to talk about their mental health.
Michael's involvement extends to interviews, including one with Matthew Knight, Managing Director of RABDF, at Dairy Tech. He's also appeared on BBC Look North and BBC East Midlands, sharing positive messages about discussing mental health and seeking help when needed.
To further spread the message, Michael actively engages with local clubs, giving talks and distributing Just Talk Agri window stickers for tractors, cars, and vans. Money raised through the sale of stickers is donated towards charities The Farming Community Network and The Farm Safety Foundation (Yellow Wellies).
Michael's resilience and dedication make him an outstanding ambassador. Having experienced the loss of close friends, he understands the importance of addressing mental health issues and openly shares how he has overcome challenges.
In addition to his involvement in Just Talk Agri, Michael balances his responsibilities as the Vice Chair for the Youth Forum steering group, serves as a junior club leader for his local club, alongside full-time college and farm work.
He's a warm, genuine, and enthusiastic young individual, always willing to step up and assist when and where needed.
He actively engages with his local club to promote British food and encourages people to buy local to reduce food miles. One of his notable initiatives was Febru-dairy, where he took the lead in creating a video promoting milk.
His love of farming was recently profiled in the Farm Machinery Journal, a national farming magazine, where he shared his experiences and insights on how to involve more young people in the farming sector.
Michael's relentless dedication to promoting mental health awareness and his contributions to the farming industry at such a young age, made him the stand out winner of the Young Farmer of the Year. We loved that Michael’s passion for the industry and his determination to make it safer.
