Lizzie McLaughlin is a passionate advocate for bridging the gap between the public and the farming community. Growing up in Middlesbrough, Teesside, she proudly identifies as a townie who has carved out a remarkable career as an award-winning food and farming podcaster, despite coming from a non-farming background.

On entering the agricultural sector, she quickly developed a passion for the industry and a commitment to challenging stereotypes about farming. With a growing social media following of around 30,000, Lizzie is dedicated to fostering a stronger connection between farming and the general public. She is now an ambassador for the ultimate celebration of British farming, The Great British Farm-Fest (www.farm-fest.org), taking place at NAEC Stoneleigh between 22-24 May.

Lizzie hosts her popular podcast, ‘Second Nature,’ which reached number 8 in Apple's Top 200 for Home and Garden, and serves as a proactive mental health ambassador for Yellow Wellies. She aims to inspire the next generation and has worked with NFU Education to create videos for schools, helping children understand where their food comes from and encouraging them to explore careers in agriculture.



I didn’t grow up surrounded by rolling fields or the smell of fresh silage. I grew up in Middlesbrough – concrete, cul-de-sacs and corner shops. It's not exactly the place you'd expect someone to fall in love with farming. And yet, some of my earliest memories involve wellies.

When I was four or five, my parents took me to visit a tiny farm tucked behind a housing estate. It wasn’t picture-postcard countryside – more ‘sheep behind the semi’ – but I was completely smitten. According to my mom, after that day, all I wanted to do was go back. It became my happy place.

The trouble was, loving farms and becoming a farmer felt like two very different things. Growing up, farming didn’t feel like a career option – I lost touch with something I had truly fallen in love with. At school it was never mentioned, and the only image I had came from storybooks: flat caps, sheepdogs and tractors trundling across fields. Lovely, yes – but not exactly a path laid out at careers day.

So, I followed my other passion instead: the creative arts. I studied English Language and Linguistics with Media, followed up by an MA in design, and planned on heading for a city marketing job. Then, by pure chance, I took a short-term marketing role with a poultry equipment company. I thought I’d stay a year – how wrong I was.

Suddenly I saw farming up close, and it wasn’t the picture-book stereotype at all. It was innovative, diverse and full of scientists, storytellers and technology experts. There were jobs in communications, data, education and media. It wasn’t just muddy wellies, farming or nothing; it was a whole world I’d never been shown.

I’d found my way back in.

Since then, I’ve worked across the industry, learning as much as I can on my way. From poultry equipment, I’ve moved on to agricultural publishing, started writing about women in farming, and launched a podcast to challenge misconceptions about the industry and ask all the questions I was too embarrassed to ask at first – like the difference between hay and straw, or what on earth an agronomist actually does (think plant expert for the record).

Podcasting has taken me across the country, onto dairy farms at 5am, into muddy fields and calving sheds, meeting the people who grow and produce our food. It’s messy, with early starts and cold hands – and I absolutely love it. Now my job blends both sides of me in the best way possible.

If there’s one thing I’ve learnt, it’s this: you don’t have to grow up on a farm to belong in agriculture. You just need curiosity and a pair of wellies.

One day, I’d love a little farm of my own – somewhere local children can visit, meet the animals and ask questions. Maybe even a pink tractor – the ultimate childhood fantasy.

The Great British Farm-Fest will take place at Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire 22 – 24 May 2026.
Music acts are as follows:
Friday: Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Groove Armada (DJ Set), Rick Parfitt Jnr, The Hothouse Flowers, Chris Stark
Saturday: The Shires, Massoake, Chris Moyles, Sara Cox Power Wower
Sunday: Alex James’ Britpop Classical, Ricky Wilson Presents the Fabulous Adjustable Band, 10cc, One Night in Nashville
Adult tickets start from £60.