The Devon Farm Business Awards are creeping closer on the horizon, with the April showers hopefully bringing May flowers and some sunshine ready for 15th May this year.
Nominations and entries have been plentiful again this year for the awards organised by the Addington Fund and Devon County Agricultural Association with support from principal sponsor Stephens Scown LLP.
It’s clear from all of the farm businesses put forward that Devon is full of passion for agriculture. The farmers of Devon are standing proud and rightly so, with many wanting to demonstrate their current best practices and to show us how they are forever thinking ahead for our farming future.
The nominees have kept the judges busy, giving them a tough job to select the shortlist, followed by final judging with farm visits and interviews.
Best Commercial Farmer shortlist, kindly sponsored by PKF Francis Clark:
- The Dart Family, Darts Farm
- The Cotton Family, R&P Farming
Best Woman in Agriculture shortlist, kindly sponsored by NatWest:
- Claire Sampson, Gappah Farm
- Jo Jones, Dairyfield
- Louise Lethbridge, GA & LA Lethbridge
CAAV John Neason Diversification Award shortlist, kindly sponsored by with NPS & CAAV:
- Annette, James & Richard Hunt, Hunts Cider Ltd
- Luke & Emily Knight, Knights Farm
- Lawrence Glanville, South Battisborough Farm
Best Farm Processor shortlist, kindly sponsored by Cornish Mutual:
- James & Ben Harvey, Langage Farm
- Peter & Jess Hockridge, Milkiosk
- Guy Watson, Riverford Organic Farmers Ltd
Best Dairy Farmer shortlist, kindly sponsored by Crediton Dairy:
- James Banbury, Frankaborough Farm
- The Reeds, Allerhouse Farm
- The Knapman family, Shilstone Farm
Best Young Farmer shortlist, kindly sponsored by Savills:
- Jamie Vanstone, Chapel Farm
- Becky Dennis, Lower Crufts Farm
- Stuart & Hazel Marshall, Higher East Farm
The winners of the Devon Farm Business Awards 2019, including Farming Champion sponsored by the NFU & Devon’s Farmer of the Year, sponsored by Mole Valley, will be announced at a gala dinner on the eve of the Devon County Show on 15th May.
For more information and updates on the awards, please visit our website at www.addingtonfund.org.uk and follow us on our social media.