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Stephen Evans

Agriculture

What made you choose Harper Adams, Stephen — both for your undergraduate degree and now for your PhD?

What first attracted me to Harper Adams was its global reputation and the fact it has a working farm right on campus. It offered the chance to learn both in theory and in practice — something that really appealed to me. I didn’t have much experience in agriculture when I started, but Harper’s location and the variety of operations on site, from crops to livestock, gave me the opportunity to build up my knowledge and get to the same level as others entering the sector.

Coming back to do my PhD here felt like a natural next step. Harper was originally founded on poultry production and is home to the National Institute of Poultry Husbandry, so the depth of expertise and resources available made it an ideal place to carry out my research into broiler chicken nutrition. Knowing the campus and the community from my undergraduate days was also an added bonus!

And how have you found life at Harper Adams since you’ve joined us?

As an undergraduate, the first thing that struck me was the real sense of community. Everyone was in the same boat — not knowing many people — so it was easy to make friends. Freshers' Week was great for that, with loads of opportunities to get involved through sports, societies, and other activities. Joining Harper Ireland really helped me settle in too. It brought together students from across the island of Ireland, and we often teamed up with Harper Cymru for events like Royal Ascot and the Welsh Winter Fair, which made the experience even better.

Now, as a PhD student, one of the things I really value is the collaborative relationship we have with staff. There's a genuine openness and encouragement to talk about your research — whether that’s through formal workshops or informal coffee breaks. The staff are incredibly approachable and keen to support meaningful conversations about how our research is shaped and delivered.

That sounds great Stephen! Beyond campus life, how has your time at Harper Adams supported your career so far?

The experience I gained during my undergraduate placement was essential in securing a job in industry after graduating. I spent my placement year with ForFarmers UK, travelling across the country to learn about pig production and the importance of nutrition. After graduating, I returned to ForFarmers as their Young Animal Feeds Specialist, covering everything from Inverness to Cornwall. It gave me the chance to see the full spectrum of UK livestock production — particularly pigs — and advise producers on feeding technologies.

The ability to communicate technical advice in a commercial setting was key, and that’s something Harper prepared me for. Modules like Farm Animal Nutrition, Farm Animal Health, and Sustainable Animal Production Systems gave me the knowledge producers expected when I stepped into those roles.

Did those earlier experiences feed into your PhD — and help shape where you’re heading next?

Definitely. My undergraduate dissertation gave me a solid base for running live trial work, which has been a big part of my PhD. I’ve been able to build on that foundation and take things further — from running experiments to speaking at events like Balmoral and the Great Yorkshire Show. There’s even been the chance to present at international conferences, like the World Poultry Science Association in Toronto this year, Beijing in 2026, and BSAS in York.

Once I finish my PhD, I’d like to go back into industry and get involved in commercial sales again. I’d also love to get into teaching one day — and help get more people involved in agriculture the way I did.

Any final words of advice, Stephen?

Just go for it. Taking the first step is always the hardest, but once you do, it quickly feels like the most natural thing. Everyone’s in the same boat when they arrive at Harper Adams, which creates a level playing field where you can really be yourself.

If you don’t try, you’ll never know what could’ve been. Harper opens a lot of doors — but you have to be part of it, get involved, and let people know you’re here. That’s how you unlock the best opportunities.