An Essex-born agricultural journalist has won a top international scholarship that will allow him to attend a major event in Nairobi, Kenya, in October.
Ben Eagle, the founder of RuralPod Media, is the only UK winner of a Young Leaders in Agricultural Journalism Award sponsored by the International Federation of Agricultural Journalists (IFAJ) and global animal nutrition specialists Alltech.
It means Ben, 35, will be joining nine other journalists from countries around the world at the IFAJ Congress in Kenya and will also benefit from a professional development workshop that will focus on reporting skills and leadership training and include agricultural tours.
The RuralPod website says the company specialises in ‘rural’ and ‘podcasts’ and bringing the two things together. “Our mission is to make rural stories mainstream and this drives everything we do,” it adds.
Although now living in Norfolk, Ben comes from an Essex farming family and has previous experience in farming and conservation, as well as in communications. Alongside producing and presenting podcasts, he has written for various rural publications including The Countryman and Organic Farming Magazine.
He started podcasting in 2016 when he launched Meet the Farmers, a podcast that has taken him all over the UK and enabled him to build an extensive rural network. Ben is a member of the British Guild of Agricultural Journalists.
”I am thrilled to have been selected to take part in the 2025 Alltech Young Leaders Programme in Kenya this October, Ben told South East Farmer. I’m looking forward to meeting colleagues from across the globe, sharing experiences and enhancing my journalistic and leadership skills.
“I’m especially excited to experience the diverse and dynamic agricultural landscape of Kenya and look forward to bringing these insights back to influence my future work in the field of agricultural communications.”
The Young Leaders in Agricultural Journalism Awards were set up in 2006 and aim to recognise the leadership potential of those under 35, pointing out that they “have the important role of sharing the stories of agriculture with the world”.
Adrian Bell, IFAJ secretary general, explained: “For 20 years, Alltech and IFAJ have worked together to identify those who have the leadership potential to develop not only themselves but the profession of agricultural journalism and communication as a whole.
“These ten young leaders will, like other YL alumni, become tomorrow’s leaders and influencers, continuing IFAJ’s mission to support and expand a vibrant, professional and well-skilled agricultural journalism sector to an ever-increasing number of countries.”
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