Countryfile presenter Adam Henson recently shared an emotional post on social media about his late father, Joe Henson, who passed away from cancer in 2015. Joe Henson was a farmer and the founder of the Rare Breeds Survival Trust, as well as a presenter on BBC shows like Animal Magic. In honor of his father’s memory, Adam has opened applications for the Three Counties Agricultural Society Bursary in Memory of Joe Henson MBE.
The bursary aims to support individuals within Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, and Worcestershire who are pursuing further education in agriculture or related fields. It provides financial support for up to three years of study, with an annual amount of up to £1,000. Fans and followers of Adam Henson have praised him for continuing his father’s legacy and creating a meaningful opportunity for others in the agricultural community.
Joe Henson was not only a farmer but also a visionary who established the Cotswold Farm Park, the first rare breeds farm open to the public, in 1971. Adam fondly remembers working closely with his father on the farm and learning valuable skills and knowledge from him. Despite the devastating loss of his father in 2015, Adam reflects on the special moments they shared and the important conversations they had before Joe’s passing.
Adam expressed gratitude for the time he had with his father and the opportunity to express his love and appreciation for everything Joe had done for him. He acknowledged his father’s acceptance of death and philosophical outlook on life, shaped by his experiences as a farmer. Since Joe’s passing, Adam has taken on the responsibility of running the family farm and preserving his father’s legacy, both in farming and in television.
While Adam acknowledges that he may never fill his father’s shoes entirely, he remains committed to honoring Joe Henson’s memory and continuing the work that was so important to him. Through his work in agriculture and television, Adam pays tribute to the man who taught him everything he knows and inspired him to follow in his footsteps.
In addition to the bursary program, Adam Henson’s efforts to preserve rare breeds and promote agricultural education serve as a testament to his father’s legacy and the impact he had on the farming community. By sharing his personal journey and experiences, Adam inspires others to carry on the traditions and values passed down by previous generations in the agricultural industry.