A group of students travelled to an event billed as ‘the largest agricultural machinery show in the world’ in November.

The 34 agricultural learners from Easton and Otley had a two day trip to Agritechnica in Hanover, Germany.

On the way to the show the group from Suffolk and Norfolk had a stopover in Harsewinkel to have a look around farm machinery maker CLAAS’s combine harvester factory.

John Attridge, agricultural tutor at the Otley campus, said: “We have been going to these shows (in Germany and France) for several years.

“Some of this group had never been abroad before and by travelling through France, Belgium Holland and Germany, they were able to see other parts of the world.

“Educationally, I think it’s great for the students.

“They get to talk to people from different cultures and get a real sense of the differences and similarities within farming.

“They are able to get more of a global perspective on farming and this can only help them with their studies and in their futures.

“The show changes all the time. Before, there was a large emphasis on the environment in particular, but the focus was more general this year.

“The additional visit to CLAAS to tour their impressive factory was educationally spot-on and we really were welcomed with open arms.

“There may be uncertainty in terms of our industry in terms of how things are going to pan out with Brexit, however, if this trip is anything to go by, the desire for Europe to work with the UK in the future is now as strong as it’s ever been as far as I could see.”

Student Connor Riches, of Westhall, near Halesworth, said the trip had opened his eyes to different ways of doing things.

“Gaining new perspectives on farming from other countries can only benefit me in the future,” he said.

“It opens your eyes to new ways of doing things so I’d like to thank the college for this opportunity.”

The trip followed on from a similar excursion to the Paris agricultural show in March.

Earlier this year, students from the college have also represented Easton and Otley at a ploughing competition in Estonia as well as representing the UK in a competition called the Agrolympics that also took place in Germany.