Female Cavan farmer makes international agri influencer shortlist

Farmer Sophie Bell from Virginia Town, Cavan, has a combined 118,300 followers on Instagram and Facebook. Photo: Alan Betson / The Irish Times

Cavan farmer Sophie Bell has been shortlisted for the DLG Agri Influencer Award 2026.

On November 12, the winner will be announced in Hanover, Germany, at EuroTier, the world's leading trade fair for animal farming and livestock management.

The award recognises outstanding agricultural communication on social media channels such as Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube. It is organised by the DLG (German Agricultural Society), which has named six finalists from Austria, France, Ireland, Turkey and Germany.

From Virginia in Co Cavan, Sophie has a combined 118,300 followers on Instagram and Facebook.

The award judges said she shows her everyday life in great variety, from changing tractor tyres and milking cows to attending events and sharing thoughts on living and working in agriculture as a young, publicly active woman from a small farm.

“She uses her reach to advocate for farming politically, and she takes her followers along honestly and with humour. She speaks not only to fellow farmers but, through her easy-to-understand posts, also gives non-farmers insight into her farm”.

Sophie says: “I want to help other people in the industry, especially young people and women, to show what’s possible and create better opportunities for them. 

"I suffered with confidence in the industry, and my farm was going to be sold when I was in school. I really want to demonstrate what’s possible if you are passionate.” 

The award jury was pulled into her feed by her varied topics and different types of content, all carried by skilful storytelling and a positive, strong personality.

Having studied agriculture and animal science at Harper Adams University in the UK, and having done her master's degree at University College Dublin, focusing her thesis on TB and the impact on farmers, Sophie took on farming in partnership with her father, and they are now contract rearing heifers.

She took part in the recent Growing Voices – Women in Farming Teagasc event, which celebrated women's contribution to the sector and explored opportunities to support women at every stage of their farming journey.

The DLG Agri Influencer Award 2026 honours social media profiles that present agriculture in an authentic, professional, and relatable way, while making an exceptional contribution to the sector's public outreach efforts. 

The award aims to strengthen dialogue between agriculture and society at large. The first, second, and third-place winners will be announced on November 12 during the Young Farmers Party at EuroTier 2026.

With the award, DLG seeks to increase public awareness of the original work of content creators, thereby supporting their communication efforts in the farming sector. The international award has been presented annually since 2022.