About the Canterbury Farmers Club
The club in 2008
The Club is currently led by Chairman Henry Holdstock, who
recently retired as Secretary of the Club after over 30 years in that position.
Henry is a well respected land 
agent
and comes from a farming family.
The Senior Vice Chairman is Alastair Boyd.
The Junior Vice Chairman is Mark Izard
The current Committee of the Club continues to represent a very wide range of farming interests. It recognises that farming in Kent in the 21st Century is a far cry from that experienced by their forefathers in the late 18th Century; indeed it is very different from that experienced in the latter half of the 20th century.
This is a period of great change as the effect of the move from production led support to the current single farm payment system is fully absorbed by the cereal and livestock farmers.
Kent is the Garden of England but the ever increasing dominance of the very large retailers and the global nature of their supply chain has changed for ever the fruit and vegetable sectors. Few have continued to grow Hops, once extensively grown in the County. However there is still an annual Hop Report presented to the Club by Tony Redell, a stalwart of hop production in Kent
The farmers attending the Canterbury Farmers Club meetings are all keen to be in the forefront of the changes and hence the range of the discussion and the diversity of views is wide ranging and stimulating. Whilst the average age of the UK farmer may be late 50s the Club is actively working towards the average age of its membership below that.
There may be less farmers in the 21st century but there is an ever increasing need for them to provide mutual support via organisations such as the Canterbury Farmers Club.
The Club fulfils a unique role to the farming community around East Kent and beyond. The range of the interests of its membership; its ability to attract the best speakers; and its independence enable it to provide an ideal forum to meet discuss and learn!
