Rhonda Thompson
NFU county adviser (Lincolnshire)Rhonda joined the National Farmers’ Union in November 2019 and is the county adviser for Lincolnshire.
She works with branches across Alford, Louth, Horncastle and Coningsby, Grantham, North Lincolnshire and Epworth and Lincoln and Gainsborough.
Rhonda’s passion is to engage with members and the next generation and encourage them to make the most of the significant benefits they get from being a member of the NFU.
Her partner farms combinable crops and sugar beet and working with Warwick University, is growing a UK variety of baked beans.
Prior to joining the NFU, she worked as business development manager at Bishop Burton and Riseholme colleges from 2015 to 2018. Here she worked with industry partners including Asda to conduct on-farm practical trials with students. She also secured funding of £75,000 from the Prince's Countryside Fund to help deliver and develop the Farm Management Development Programme brought with her from her previous role at the RAU (Royal Agricultural University). The programme focus was to help develop young people in management roles either on the family farm or in employment, to instil confidence and to create groups of like-minded individuals who would become lifelong friends. Being part of the students’ passion and enthusiasm for the industry was very infectious.
Previous to working at the colleges she worked at the RAU co-ordinating Business Management and Leadership Development training programmes for the Worshipful Company of Farmers, John Edgar Trust and Institute of Agricultural Management from 2005 to 2015. She was fortunate in meeting many who attended these courses or spoke on them again when she moved to Lincolnshire.
Rhonda loves being part of our amazing agricultural community, helping members, working with Lincolnshire Police and the Fire and Rescue Service and with members to lobby local MPs. it is the best job she has ever had and she firmly believes that this organisation belongs to its members and importantly, that "you only get out what you put in". This is why she always encourages everyone to be involved as much as they can.
"Please do get in touch and come to one of our meetings or events. Being around like-minded people, especially when there are challenges, is so good. I look forward to seeing you soon."