FARMERS in Dorset staged a special to showcase the values of farming.

Down Barn Farm, Tarrant Rawston, hosted the Farming in Dorset Day Event on Friday, July 13.

The event has been organised to tell MPs, councillors and other key decision makers about how important farming is to the county, and highlight the hard work farmers do to produce food.

The meeting, which has been supported by NFU Mutual, was run by Dorset NFU county chairman James Cossins and his daughter, Georgie.

Speaking before the event, Mr Cossins, said the meeting would be a valuable opportunity to talk about some of the challenges currently facing the farming industry.

Mr Cossins said: "The county's farmers play a crucial role in providing healthy food and we need to make sure that continues."

Attendance is by invite only, with local councillors, mayors, members of the public services such as the police, fire brigade, and more set to be at the event.

Speaking on what he hoped to gain from the event, James said: "I hope that those invited go away with a better understanding on food production, Brexit, and we hope that they can go on to educate everyone where food comes from, that people should buy British when shopping."

The event was organised following the Health and Harmony agenda released by Michael Gove.

Education will be high on the agenda, with a look at what farmers can do to help provide educational opportunities for children, which are linked to the national curriculum.

Washingpool Farm in North Allington's participation for the annual Open Farm Sunday event, which gives people a chance to have a look round a local farm and see what goes on, highlighted the popularity of local farming amongst the local community.

Tarrant Rawston welcomed 2000 people for the annual event which took place in June.

NFU has launched a 'Farmvention' competition, which provides a choice of three problem-based challenges, designed to engage children with key topics such as science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM), as well as getting children to think about the everyday challenges farmers in Britain face.

James said: "Its important for children to know where food comes from and how it is produced.

"Those that live in large cities don't have the link, and just go to their supermarket to get their meat.

"To have a bit of awareness of what happens in the countryside is important."

The event will also provide a chance to look at the environment work farmers do, which is likely to become more important as we move towards Brexit and away from the current farm support scheme, working towards the government's plan for 'public money for public goods', which includes looking after the environment.

To find out more about Farmvention, you can visit farmvention.com