Richard Bower

Richard is a 3rd generation farmer at Lower Drayton Farm, growing up, his family always told him to go and work for the supermarkets, as there was no money in farming!

Richard always knew he would farm, but studied a degree in food marketing with business studies at Harper Adams, which broadened his knowledge of the food supply chain, upon completing his degree he was entered on on Management Development Services (MDS) a graduate scheme in Food and Fresh Produce management where he completed 6 month secondments working in different departments and at different levels of the food supply chain.

Richard worked with top fruit, fresh flowers and Christmas hamper sales, however, it was working for Cobrey Farms, the UK single largest asparagus grower, where Richard flourished. Managing the harvest of the world famous crop was where Richard found his passion, he always remembers eating asparagus from a young age, dipping it into butter!

 Upon returning to the family farm in Staffordshire, Richard now produces, sustainable Aberdeen Angus beef cattle, Staffordshire Lamb, wheat, barley and oil seeds, alongside collaborating with neighbouring farms to produce Staffordshire strawberries and potatoes.

Richard believes in 5 cornerstones of the farming industry

 1. High quality food production

2. Natural fibre production

3.Renewable energy production

4. Environmental management

5. Public engagement

The farm is in higher level stewardship. Produces renewable energy and has a visitors centre based around a children’s playbarn. We also have a cafe which serves a menu using ingredients from our farm and the local area.

Away from the farm, Richard is chairman of Staffordshire NFU county branch, sits on the BBC Rural Affairs Committee and was on the World Farmers Organisation first ever Gymnasium Programme a global personal development programme for 20 young farmers from all over the world.

Richard has a passion for food, he wants to give others the same opportunities he has been given and believes farmer co-operation is the future.