Jack Elworthy from Golant, Cornwall, was named Scholar of the Year in the West Country Dairy Awards 2017 and was awarded a £2000 prize. The awards are made to students from Cornwall, Devon, Somerset and Dorset studying dairy industry-related subjects.

Jack said: “I feel greatly honoured to win this award and it is something I’m very proud of. As a new entrant into dairy farming I have come a long way from my first day on the farm aged 14.

"Having the financial backing from the award will allow me to fully focus on my final year at Harper Adams University, allowing me to concentrate on my university work instead of working full-time during the holidays.”

Jack hopes to start his career in farm management after graduating and is pleased with the £2,000 awarded to him.

He said: “One day I will become a share milker, giving me the opportunity to manage my own business. I hope that by winning this award it will show others that you can have success in the agricultural industry without coming from a farming background. Although I have a great amount still to learn I feel eternally grateful to those that have supported me.”

The other finalists were James Gould from Devon, Mike Powell and Jessica Nurse from Somerset and Anna Macpherson from Dorset.