Minette Batters - Harvest

The Bookery in partnership with Sustainable Crediton is delighted to welcome Minette Batters, the first female president of the National Farmers Union and one of the most influential voices in British agriculture, for an evening celebrating the publication of her brilliant new book, Harves t, in conversation with Devon farmer and agricultural campaigner Andy Gray.Blending memoir and manifesto, Harvest tells the story of Minette Batters fight for British farming through some of the most turbulent years in recent history. Born and raised on a small family farm, Minette returned home to work the land despite being warned there was no future in farming. While running the farm, managing a successful catering business and raising her twins, she became an uncompromising advocate for the people who feed the nation. In 2018 she made history as the first female president of the NFU in its 109year existence, becoming the industrys most visible public voice during Brexit, Covid and a period of profound uncertainty for food production.
Cleareyed, passionate and deeply rooted in lived experience, Harvest is both a love letter to British rural life and a rallying cry for its future. Batters offers an unvarnished account of the pressures facing farmers today, while setting out what must change if British food and farming are to survive and thrive.James Rebanks describes Batters as a powerful voice for things that matter. Jeremy Clarkson calls Harves t absolutely brilliant. Jamie Oliver describes it as a mustread.Minette Batters is an awardwinning British farmer and was President of the National Farmers Union of England and Wales from 2018 to 2024. She has been a member of the House of Lords since 2024 and has run Barford Park Farm for decades. She remains one of the most respected voices in British agriculture, advising both farmers and government, and is a columnist for Country Life.
Andy Gray isa 13thgeneration Devon farmer and Chairman of the Devon County Agricultural Association, farms in Mid Devon while also owning and managing a diverse portfolio of rural businesses. These include a catering butchers wilddeer processing plant, a small abattoir, a dogfood company and a quarry. He is cofounder of Rootstock and is involved in innovative startups spanning fertiliser production, cyanobacteriabased building materials, and the development of new slaughterhouse infrastructure in Orkney and the Isles of Scilly.This special event is presented in partnership with Sustainable Crediton, a local organisation working to build a resilient, lowcarbon community through practical action and education