We are a group of experienced journalists and PR consultants, specialising in agriculture and the rural sector. Subjects covered range from technical livestock articles to detailed arable or horticultural features. We also have expertise in farm machinery and equipment, consumer-facing articles and business topics. We are all members of the British Guild of Agricultural Journalists (BGAJ), which provides opportunities for professional development through training, networking events and awards. Whatever your media needs, we can fulfil them.
Agri-hub Team
Olivia Cooper – Founder of Agri-hub. Olivia is an award-winning journalist and PR consultant, specialising in rural and agricultural business promotion. She is a regular contributor to Farmers Weekly, Farmers Guardian, and other specialist publications. She is former chair of the BGAJ and is an accredited CIPR practitioner.
A life-long motor racing enthusiast, from April to September Olivia can be found on the UK hillclimb scene. In 2021, she travelled to Braga, Portugal to race as part of Team GB in the FIA European Hillclimb Masters and was crowned Masters Ladies’ Champion. She lives in Devon with her husband and teenage twins, who are now learning the hillclimb ropes.
Contact: [email protected] or 01392 840009
Twitter: @OliviaCoop1227 LinkedIn: Olivia Cooper
Ruth Wills – Ruth joined the team in 2018 with a degree in Rural Business Management. Living on a dairy farm, livestock is at the heart of her journalistic interests. Supporting British farmers by helping tell their stories has seen her become a 2021 IFAJ Young Leader, travelling to Kentucky to attend and report from the Alltech ONE Conference.
Keeping her company at her home office is 2.5 year old Huntaway cross, Freddie. Ruth has grown a social media following as a talented content creator, her feeds often feature delicious feasts, coastal views, and of course, dairy cows.
“I love my job because every day is different and completely unique – no two days are the same,” says Ruth. “One day I could be writing about arable rotations, the next I’m brainstorming social media content for a client, and then out on farm the day after.
“The thing about agriculture is that it is always changing and evolving – there are always new things to learn. I’ve also been lucky enough to travel with my job, which has been incredible; because farming is present in every country worldwide, the possibilities are endless.”
And teamwork inspires our ambitions as individuals, adds Ruth. “We have a wonderful, supportive team at Agri-hub and I feel very lucky to work alongside such talented people (who bring biscuits).”
Contact: [email protected] or 07772 889080
Twitter: @farmerruth LinkedIn: Ruth Wills
Lydia Wombwell –Joining the team in October 2024, Lydia is a welcome addition to the Exeter office.
Forging her new career – after travelling and working in New Zealand and Australia – she is a broad thinker with an extraordinary zest for British agriculture. She credits her participation on the BGAJ John Deere Journalism Training Course as invaluable in cementing her journalistic ambitions. “Spending time abroad really broadened my horizons,” says Lydia. “Returning to the UK, I became interested in agricultural journalism and met Ruth Wills at an event – she actually recommended the John Deere Journalism course to me.”
Hailing from Essex, she has a keen interest in arable farming and remains active within her home county’s Young Farmers organisation – albeit, from afar. When she’s not at work, she can be found running, enjoying a pint at the pub, or watching any equestrian activity – be that polo in the summer or point-to-point in the winter.
“I love my job so much already,” she says. “I can’t wait to learn more about all the different working parts of agriculture and communications. Since falling in love with farming, I’ve spent hours and hours reading farming magazines, so I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to write for the publishers that I owe a lot to.”
Contact: [email protected] or 07767 402019 LinkedIn: Lydia Wombwell
Heather – Olivia’s family whippet, full of mischief – when not snoozing for 23 hours of the day – she has a pretty impressive turn of speed!
Queen of the office and morale booster extraordinaire, she is a coach potato of the very best sort. Heather became a mother in February 2022; the world is certainly a much better place for having more Heathers in it.
She loves a biscuit (who doesn’t) and very much dislikes squirrels (and cats).
Fern – Agri-hub’s newest four-legged recruit. Daughter of Heather, she is all kinds of fun with a good slosh of mischief.
When she’s not busy recreating Phar Lap’s greatest race, or impersonating an alligator, she’ll often be found in a full whippet-wrap with Heather, or blissing out having a proper cwtch with one of the two-legged team members.
She is a words of affirmation and physical touch girly – absolutely hates going more than five minutes without being loved on.