OFC Inspire: Ed Hodson

I’m Ed Hodson, a product manager for a large machinery company. I’m originally from Norfolk but now find myself living in Stamford, Lincolnshire, with my wife and two children. I’m not from a farming family, but I've always had a huge interest in agriculture, particularly machinery. After graduating from university 13 years ago, I'd reached a point where I wanted more from my career and needed to push myself to seek new experiences and meet new people.

I’ve known about the Oxford Farming Conference (OFC) for several years, and when I saw the Inspire Programme, I thought this could be the opportunity I was looking for, and it certainly didn’t disappoint. The London away days with its visit were great, and a huge thanks goes out to TIAH for making this possible.   

In the lead up to the OFC, I was filled with anticipation. The line-up of speakers looked great, and I was keen to get back together with the other members of the Inspire Programme after our recent London trip. When the announcement was made that the conference would be online, I felt somewhat deflated. However, on day one of the conference, I realised there was no need to feel that way at all. Wow, what a conference it was! The speakers had so much knowledge and passion for their topic, and there was so much to absorb over the three days. It was like a machine gun of facts, figures, and opinions. I'll certainly need to review my notes and the presentations again.

Healthy competition

The OFC app initially felt a little odd and slightly impersonal, but it soon became the best way to have discussions with other delegates. Some healthy competition soon ensued among the Inspire group, with most of the top 10 places being held by its cohort. To pick one presentation or one stand-out moment from the conference is almost impossible as there were so many!

However, I particularly enjoyed listening to the Ministers speak in the ‘National Session.’ The honest summary given by Jack Ward on the horticulture sector was refreshing to hear, not to mention the overflowing passion and enthusiasm shown by John Pawsey and Sarah Bell in the ‘Farm of the Future’ Session. There were so many other moments that I simply can’t list in a few paragraphs.

The debate was another standout moment for me. Having my views read out in such a critical session was something I'm really proud of and will remember for a long time. Watching the sessions at home was made much better by the hundreds of WhatsApp messages shared within the OFC Inspire Group. It gave us that interaction we were otherwise missing, and if the online conference was this good – I can’t wait for 2023 when I get to be there in person!