Francesca Shaw, Agricultural Student of the Year

Francesca Shaw has been awarded Askham Bryan College’s Best Agricultural Student 2022 at this year’s Great Yorkshire Show. Fran has shown great dedication and ambition in her studies with us and is actively involved in organic farming operations at her home farm Monk Fryston near Selby and working at a beef and sheep farm local to home. She takes every opportunity with gusto, competing to a high standard in the college Stockmanship competition, attending the RAFT Precision Livestock Conference, Sheep Scanning Course and her Vet and Med qualifications alongside all of her academic work.

Fran says, “I am delighted to receive this award.  My learning experience has enabled me to understand my strengths, and weaknesses, and has prepared me for work placement which has given me the insight of how other people work which has informed my own work at the farms.  Studying in the classroom and training on the farm has helped me develop the necessary skills and knowledge for industry.  My next steps include pursuing an Agriculture degree at University Centre Askham Bryan and work with Yorkshire Women in Agriculture and female industry role models to help  inspire more girls to study and work in agriculture.”

The Askham Bryan College agriculture team says, “We are immensely proud to have taught Fran as her enthusiasm to study and work hard has always been noted. Her attendance both at college and online during Covid was excellent; she always demonstrates resilience, dedication and passion for her subject however tough it gets. Fran has all the qualities needed to make a great success of her farming career in the future. She’s been an absolute asset to Level 3 Agriculture at Askham Bryan College, supporting her peers and leading by example. She is a valued student who we all wish the best of luck to in her future.”