Two Suffolk sisters will take centre-stage at a landowners’ leaders national conference in London to highlight how their family farm has been transformed.

Emily and Lucy McVeigh of Kenton Hall Estate near Debenham will take to the platform in front of more than 500 influential industry leaders at the Country Land and Business Association’s (CLA) Rural Business Conference next week (Thursday, November 29). The event is also due to be addressed by environment secretary Michael Gove.

Kenton Hall Estate, which is privately owned and family run, has developed into a successful and diversified rural business which incorporates a productive arable farm, Longhorn cattle herd producing high quality beef, wedding venue, glamping site and cookery school.

“It is an absolute pleasure to have been invited to speak at such a prestigious event and to share our experiences of farm diversification,” said Emily.

“We are extremely proud of what we have achieved at the estate and speaking at the CLA conference is a fantastic opportunity to showcase our achievements.

“In developing our business there have been many challenges and obstacles and it has certainly not been an easy journey. Our passion, determination and unwavering belief in our business have been key to our success.

“By giving an insight into Kenton Hall Estate we hope to inspire other landowning businesses to be ambitious and explore new ways to develop their own ventures in the future.”

CLA East regional director Ben Underwood said it was proud to have the estate as one of its members.

“It has been fantastic to see how the business has diversified and thrived in recent years. I am sure their appearance at our national conference will provide plenty of insight that will be of interest and benefit to other rural businesses.

“Our conference is an important date in the calendar and comes at a crucial time for our industry. It will celebrate success stories like that at Kenton Hall Estate, but also examine how rural businesses can be fit for the future in what are uncertain times for the landowning and farming industry.”