3,000 children to discover the journey of food
ARU Writtle will host the Essex Schools Food and Farming Day on Tuesday, 24 June
Around 3,000 pupils from 72 primary schools across Essex will gather at ARU Writtle on Tuesday, 25 June for the annual Essex Schools Food & Farming Day.
Organised by the Essex Agricultural Society, the event offers a hands-on, interactive experience designed to teach children how food travels from the farm to their plates.
Jimmy Doherty, farmer, television presenter and Visiting Professor at Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) will be the VIP guest on the day.
Activities and demonstrations will take place around six themed zones: livestock, machinery, food, crops, countryside and environment and, new for 2025, rural safety and Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).
Children will have the opportunity to meet farm animals, watch tractors and combine harvesters in action, learn about robotic fruit picking, and sample locally grown produce.
A scarecrow competition will be themed around farming in the future, with schools contributing scarecrows dressed up as a STEM-based career or what children think a farmer will look like in years to come.
The day aims to inspire curiosity about food production, sustainability, and healthy eating, while also highlighting potential careers in agriculture and environmental science.
“We are looking forward to welcoming so many schoolchildren to our fantastic campus at ARU Writtle, and we’re proud to be working with the Essex Agricultural Society on what promises to be a fascinating and educational day.”
Professor Roderick Watkins, Vice Chancellor of Anglia Ruskin University (ARU)
“The showground will be filled with exhibitors in our six zones, plus over 150 farmer volunteers. We can’t wait to see 3,000 children – and dozens of scarecrows – at the Essex Schools Food & Farming Day.”
Event Chairman Annabelle Rout, of Essex Agricultural Society