Dougie Vipond presents Agricultural Communications award
A third-generation Aberdeenshire farmer and social media star has added to her growing list of accolades after winning the Fordyce Maxwell Award for Agricultural Communications.
Nicola Wordie, who graduated from SRUC’s Aberdeen campus in 2018 with an HND in Agriculture, was presented the award by Landward presenter Dougie Vipond in recognition of her outstanding contribution to promoting Scottish agriculture through digital media, public engagement and advocacy.
Working alongside her father George, on the family’s 560-hectare farm, Nicola has become one of Scotland’s most recognisable young voices in livestock farming. She combines practical farming with a growing online presence that reaches tens of thousands of people across multiple platforms.
Through her social media channels, including Livestock FarmHER on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube, Nicola shares authentic insights into modern livestock farming, helping to bridge the gap between producers and consumers while showcasing the realities of life in the agricultural sector.
In addition to regular updates from the farm, Nicola uses her platform to champion rural wellbeing, encouraging fellow farmers to engage with support initiatives such as Farmstrong. She also volunteers as a director of the Royal Northern Countryside Initiative, helping to deliver farm visits and educational demonstrations for schoolchildren, promoting a greater understanding of food production and the countryside among younger generations.
More recently, Nicola became a regular contributor to the 'Farmers Guardian' where she shares her experiences and perspectives on the future of the industry.
Nicola said: “I’m absolutely delighted and honoured to win this award. I think the key to my success is that I like to share the good and the bad, because that’s what we’re all going through. It’s not all sunshine and roses but thankfully the good outweighs the bad, and that’s why we love farming.”
Craig Davidson, Senior Lecturer and Programme Leader for Agriculture, said: “Nicola has an exceptional ability to turn the complexities of agriculture into a narrative the resonates with the everyday consumer in a time when public perception of food production has created a divide that has never been wider. Nicola is a shining example of how effective authentic communication can remind the public of how much effort goes in to producing our food on the journey of food security.”
Nicola’s contribution to agriculture and rural communications has already been recognised through several prestigious awards. In 2021, she was named BBC Countryfile Young Countryside Champion, before receiving the Royal Northern Agricultural Society 35 years and under award in 2024. Most recently, she was awarded British Farming Awards Sheep Farmer of the Year in 2025.
Named in honour of the late agricultural journalist and father of Tom Maxwell, Chief Communications Officer at SRUC, the Fordyce Maxwell Award recognises current and former SRUC students who have made a significant contribution to telling the story of agriculture and helping improve public understanding of the industry through effective communication.
To find out more about agricultural communications courses at SRUC, visit the Micro-credentials page.
Posted by SRUC on 22/06/2026
