Britain’s farming industry have come together to celebrate the achievements of individuals at this year's British Farming Awards.
The event, sponsored by Morrisons and organised by Farmers Guardian, was attended by more than 800 farmers and industry professionals from across the UK.
Back for its 11th year, farmers across all sectors who were leading in areas of technology, science, food production and sustainability were celebrated.
Alongside farming’s core sectors including – dairy, beef, sheep and arable – there was also recognition for students, family farms, new entrants, nature-friendly businesses and diversifications, which are now crucial to many businesses.
Kicking off the evening was the Outstanding Contribution to British Agriculture, which was awarded to the Tenant Farming Association chief executive, George Dunn.
Mr Dunn has worked his way up the ranks to become a respected leader who represents farmers who do not own the land they operate in England and Wales since it was founded in 1981.
Meanwhile, the winner of this year’s Farmers Guardian’s Farming Hero: Flying the Flag for British Agriculture is the Nicholson family from Cannon Hall Farm, in Yorkshire.
The team welcome more than one million visitors across its multifunctional site comprising a working farm, adventure playgrounds, farm shop and three restaurants.
Their commitment to educating consumers about where their food comes from and the role of British farmers is exemplary with their daily, live broadcasts about looking after animals and connecting people with nature, earning them a Point of Light award.
Sophie Throup, technical director of manufacturing, Morrisons, said: “As long term supporters of British farming, we want to thank farmers across the country for the work they continue to do in these challenging times.
"We recognise the effort, care, innovation and skills which British farmers put into making and providing food we are all proud of.”
Who are the winners?
The winners and runners up from this year's British Farming Awards are:
Agricultural Student of the Year (Sponsored by AGCO)
• Gold: Naomi Ramsay, Scotland’s Rural College; Silver: Isla Soutter, Harper Adams University
Agri-Tech Innovator of the Year (Sponsored by Low Carbon Agriculture)
• Gold: James Duke, A.D.F. Milking, Sussex; Silver: Dr Vincent Martinez, Dyneval, Midlothian
Arable Farmer of the Year (Sponsored by Kramp)
• Gold: Ed Horton, S.S Horton and Sons, Gloucestershire; Silver: Colin Chappell, Chappell Farms, Northamptonshire
Beef Farmer of the Year (Sponsored by ABP Food Group)
• Gold: Greg and Rowan Pickstock, G. and D. Pickstock, Powys; Silver: Helen Parr and Daniel Fabb, D.R.A. Contractors, Cambridgeshire
Contractor of the Year (Sponsored by Kuhn)
• Gold: Kevin Heywood, A.J. Heywood and Sons, Cornwall Silver: James Dodson, VineWorks, Sussex
Dairy Farmer of the Year (Sponsored by KW Feeds)
• Gold: Patrick Morris-Eyton, Morris-Eyton and Son, Cumbria; Silver: Richard Beck, J.S. and S.M. Beck and Son, Cheshire
Digital Innovator of the Year (Sponsored by Volac; EcosylAlternative )
• Gold: Matt Slack, E.V. Slack and Sons Master Butchers, Yorkshire; Silver: Ally Hunter-Blair, Wye Farm, Herefordshire
Diversification of the Year (Small to Medium) Sponsored by NFU Mutual
• Gold: Amy Bateman, Amy Bateman Photography, Cumbria; Silver: Holly Brooks, Popell Barns Mobile Farm, Hampshire
Diversification of the Year (Large) Sponsored by Daisy Vending
Gold: David Rawlings, D.A. and S. Rawlings, Yorkshire; Silver: Chris, Sue and Thomas Heseltine, J.G.E. Heseltine and Son, Yorkshire
Family Farming Business of the Year (Sponsored by Goodyear Farm Tires)
• Gold: The Brown Family, Bluebell Dairy, Derbyshire; Silver: The Pemberton family, Pemberton’s Farm Shop and Dairies, Lancashire
Farming Hero: Flying the Flag for British Agriculture (Sponsored by Eternit)
• The Nicholson family, Cannon Hall Farm, Yorkshire
Farm Worker of the Year (Sponsored by Isuzu UK)
• Gold: Holly Atkinson, Carswell Farms, Devon; Silver: Jack Marlow, Moulton College, Northamptonshire
Grassland Farmer of the Year (Sponsored by Germinal)
• Gold: Chris and Bella Mossman, Mossman Farming, Ceredigion; Silver: John Fare, Fare Farms, Lancashire
New Entrant Award: Against the Odds (Sponsored by Massey Ferguson)
• Gold: Alex and Emily Crawley, Grazing Management, Gloucestershire; Silver: Adam and Lucy Johnstone, J.B. Countryside Services, Hampshire
Outstanding Contribution to British Agriculture (Sponsored by NSF)
• George Dunn, Chief Executive, Tenant Farmers Association
Sheep Farmer of the Year (Sponsored by SAI Global)
• Gold: Robert and Becca Rennie, Rennie Livestock, Roxburghshire; Matthew and David Roberts, D.W. and A.Roberts and Son, Flintshire
Special Recognition Award: Lifetime Achievement (Sponsored by Farmers Guardian)
• Olive Clarke, OBE
Sustainable Farmer of the Year (Sponsored by Lloyds)
Gold: David Shelton, Shoby Priory Agricultural, Leicestershire; Silver: Martin, Juliette and Matt Lines, M.T. Lines and Partners, Cambridgeshire
