The finalists for the 2020 British Farming Awards are announced

The British Farming Awards 2020 has welcomed a record number of registrations this year, a testament to the incredible work being done on farms throughout Britain.

Fifty-six individuals will now battle it out for the 14 categories up for grabs which highlight the innovation and diversity of UK agriculture.

Alongside the core sectors of agriculture including dairy, beef, sheep, arable and contracting, the awards also celebrate new entrants coming into the industry, the wealth of diversification businesses and family farms and recognition to the evolving presence of agri technology within agriculture.

A further two awards – Outstanding Contribution to British Agriculture and Farmers Guardian Farming Hero – will be announced during the awards evening which will be held virtually on Wednesday, October 21.

Organised by AgriBriefing, parent company of Farmers Guardian, Arable Farming and Dairy Farmer, the British Farming Awards is supported by Morrisons.

Innovation

Now entering its eighth year, the British Farming Awards has become a nationally recognised event which has celebrated, showcased and rewarded hundreds of British farmers who have successfully introduced innovation to drive their business forward, despite ever-increasing challenges.

As households around the nation have relied on farmers and local producers to serve the nation during the Covid-19 pandemic, the industry has welcomed a new appreciation from the public and this year’s event is more poignant than ever.

Sophie Throup, Head of Agriculture, Fisheries and Sustainable Sourcing at Morrisons, said the awards was a welcome reminder of the dedication and hard work demonstrated by UK farmers all year round.

She said: "In these unprecedented times, we would like to thank and celebrate the work of British farmers and growers who are helping to feed the nation.

“At Morrisons, we have always valued British farming and being able to buy products directly from farms for our stores and the many food banks who rely on us is now more important than ever.

“The awards provides us with a timely reminder to pause and acknowledge the effort, innovation and skills which go into providing food farmed to high standards that we all enjoy."

For more information on the awards and information on the finalists visit www.britishfarmingawards.co.uk

 

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2020 Diversification (large) Innovator Finalist - Tim and Kate Mason, Vale Training Services, Marsh Hill Farm, Buckinghamshire

Vale Training Services was established by Kate and Tim Mason, as a result of the need to maximise returns on redundant farm buildings.

They took the opportunity to access England Rural Development Programme and Rural Development Programme for England grants and converted a former milking parlour into a training centre and office and the business has continued to grow and develop.

Find out more at https://www.britishfarmingawards.co.uk/tim-and-kate-mason/

 

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2020 Diversification (large) Innovator Finalist - Ben Hollins, Fordhall Farm Event Caterers, Fordhall Farm, Shropshire

Fordhall Farm is England’s first community-owned farm. It is the result of Ben Hollins and his sister Charlotte selling £50 non-profitmaking community shares in the farm where their father had been a tenant, in order to safeguard its future.

In 2006, The Fordhall Community Land Initiative was launched, offering the siblings security of tenure for 100 years, but the next challenge was to make sure it was profitable and sustainable for the future.

Find out more at https://www.britishfarmingawards.co.uk/ben-hollins/

 

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2020 Diversification (small-medium) Innovator Finalist - David and Felicity Brown, Hoe Grange Holidays, Hoe Grange, Derbyshire

Hoe Grange Holidays is a fantastic example in its field.

Run by David and Felicity Brown, who identified a niche at its inception within a competitive marketplace, the business has enjoyed steady growth without losing the personal touch of a family run accommodation venture.

Set on a traditional family farm 1,000ft above sea level, the business first diversified in 2005 after the couple sold their 120-strong dairy herd after it became unsustainable.


Find out more at https://www.britishfarmingawards.co.uk/david-and-felicity-brown/

 

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2020 Diversification (small-medium) Innovator Finalist - Nicola Sanderson, Senwick Leisure, Upper Senwick Farm, Dumfries and Galloway

A multi-pronged approach is proving the key to success for Paul and Nicola Sanderson, who run a mixed livestock enterprise alongside their diversification ventures.

The farm comprises 500 ewes, a growing herd of Shetland cattle and 2,000 free-range laying hens, which the pair combine the running of with a direct selling business via farmers’ markets and delivery.

The couple began attending their local farmers market in October 2016, initially selling our free-range eggs but soon realised they needed to add to their offering.

Find out more at https://www.britishfarmingawards.co.uk/nicola-sanderson/

 

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2020 Diversification (small-medium) Innovator Finalist - Andrew and Jenny Jones, Rackery Retreat, Rackery Farm, Wrexham

Family is at the heart of this glamping diversification, run by Andrew and Jenny Jones with the help of their three daughters Vicky, Gemma and Larissa.

Today the farm is predominantly an arable operation, together with a small beef herd, with the glamping venture born after Andrew and Jenny made the difficult decision to sell their milking herd after Andrew was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2018.

Inspired by Andrew’s philosophy of ‘only being able to change the future’, being positive was the only option and the couple embraced and launched their diversification into agritourism.


Find out more at

https://www.britishfarmingawards.co.uk/andrew-and-jenny-jones/

 

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2020 Diversification (small-medium) Innovator Finalist - Claire Kennerley, Gruff Outdoor Learning, Messuage Farm, Cheshire

Creating an outdoor learning environment and play experiences for all ages is central to Gruff Outdoor Learning’s ethos.

When founder Claire Kennerley saw an opportunity to invite schools to visit the family’s arable farm to share her knowledge and passion for farming and the countryside, she knew she had to make it happen.

Having accumulated a variety of pets, including pygmy goats, alpacas, sheep and rare-breed hens, Claire initially began to offer a series of free trial sessions, with social media being used to promote the venture.

find out more at https://www.britishfarmingawards.co.uk/claire-kennerley/

 

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2020 Family Farming Business of the Year Finalist - The Nicholson Family, Cannon Hall Farm , South Yorkshire

The Nicholson family run Cannon Hall Farm, an award-winning farm-to-fork attraction, which has garnered attention from all over the world.

First open to the public in 1989, the family has continued to diversify the farm over the years, which to date includes a farm shop selling home reared meats, indoor and outdoor play areas, three restaurants and a permanent marquee for events.

The farm remains core to the business, comprising about 77 hectares (190 acres), with 450 ewes, Beef Shorthorn and Highland cattle and 1,200 pigs.

Find out more at https://www.britishfarmingawards.co.uk/the-nicholson-family/

 

[British Farming Awards]

2020 Family Farming Business of the Year Finalist - The Elliott Family, Elliotts Butchers and Noborough Lodge Farm Shop, Noborough Lodge Farm, Northampton

The Elliott family have been farmers and butchers in Northamptonshire for more than 100 years. They farm beef and sheep on 631 hectares (1,560 acres), 148ha (365 acres) of which is owned, alongside running Elliott’s Butchers and Noborough Lodge Farm Shop.

Operating a low input forage-based system, the family calves 380 native suckler cows outdoors, which are a mixture of South Devons, Shorthorns, Hereford and Angus, chosen for their docility, conversion of grass to meat and eating experience. Stores are bought-in to be finished and all 1,110 cattle are taken through to slaughter, with surplus sold deadweight to processors.

Find out more at https://www.britishfarmingawards.co.uk/the-elliott-family/

 

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2020 Family Farming Business of the Year Finalist - The Hodgson Family, I. M. Hodgson and Son, Great Newsome Farm, East Yorkshire

Fourth generation Hodgson family have ensured different revenue streams have helped secure their resilience and future viability.

On-farm they are growing more than 280 hectares (692 acres) of milling wheat, seed wheat, malting barley, seed barley, oilseed rape, vining peas for Birds Eye, spring oats, beans and linseed 10 miles east of Hull.

A high-welfare bed and breakfast pig enterprise also supplies a local abattoir. In 2007, the family diversified and opened Great Newsome Brewery using the malting barley grown on-farm to sell throughout Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, as well as exported into Europe.

Find out more at https://www.britishfarmingawards.co.uk/the-hodgson-family/

 

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2020 Farm Worker of the Year Finalist - Shaun McKay, J. R. and M. C. Downes and son, The Farm, Longnor, Shropshire

Herd manager Shaun is responsible for a 260-cow organic dairy unit, which operates twice-a-day milking from a spring calving and paddock grazing system.

After the introduction of sexed semen into the herd, he worked closely with the artificial insemination technician to monitor heat detection, manage the bulls more closely and go on to double the number of pregnancies.

The herd’s health was further helped by his complete renovation of 2.5 miles of cow tracks to artificial grass, which has improved cow flow and drastically reduced lameness.

Find out more at https://www.britishfarmingawards.co.uk/shaun-mckay/

 

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2020 Farm Worker of the Year Finalist - Paul Evans, J. A. Griffiths, Aberbrwynen Farm, Ceredigion

With the owners building up a second farm, Paul Evans is responsible for the daily management of the 120-strong Holstein herd, grassland management and recruitment of staff as and when needed.

Positive improvements to herd health, fertility and yields have driven performance since he joined the 165-acre unit three years ago.

Paul has increased cow yield averages from 6,400 litres in March 2017 to 8,200 and introduced the Jersey breed to increase butterfat and protein which has helped to achieve a better milk price.

Find out more at https://www.britishfarmingawards.co.uk/paulevans/