Four postgraduate agricultural students have won bursaries for 75% of their course fees in a NFU Mutual Charitable Trust award.

The 'Centenary Award' is annual award scheme that provides bursaries of up to 75% of course fees for selected postgraduate students in agriculture. To date, 33 young people have received help through the award to further their education.

This year's winners are Ella Forrest from West Yorkshire (MSc Ruminant Nutrition at Harper Adams University), Callum Weir from Cambridgeshire (MSc Agricultural Economics at University of London), Emma Caudwell from Lincolnshire (MSc Rural Land and Business Management at University of Reading) and Joe Collins from Shropshire: MSc Sustainable Crop Production, (University of Warwick).

Announcing the recipients for 2017, Richard Percy, NFU Mutual Chairman, said: “NFU Mutual is the leading rural insurer for the rural community, and we recognise the crucial role students in agriculture play in shaping the future of the industry. Our aim for the Centenary Award scheme is to create a long-standing legacy, and demonstrate our commitment to young people and the countryside.”

To select the students, the judging panel looked to award individuals who were not only excellent academic performers, but were also passionate about making a difference within the UK agricultural industry.

Centenary Award bursaries will again be available in 2018. Applications for the award next year will be invited from the start of January 2018. Prospective post graduate agricultural students who would like to find out more about the award can contact centenary_award@nfumutual.co.uk.