The South West Farmer Awards 2022 showed an extraordinary level of excellence this year.
The judging panel was tested to draw up the finalists - and even more so to decide the winners.
Here are the winners together with a little insight into their success.
If you would like to nominate your farming champion, you can do so here.
There are more photos of the awards evening here.
The Amiss family at Tregullas Farm on the Lizard Peninsula - South West Farmers of the Year (sponsored by Keenan, an Alltech company) and Sheep Farmer of the Year Award (sponsored by Business Information Point)
The family farm owned by the National Trust is the most southerly farm in mainland Britain.
The flock was established in 1993 and over the years they have bred a ewe that suits the Lizard climate and thrives on just grass.
They are not fed concentrates, they live outside all year and are easy lambing.
They also sell wether mutton in the summer and spent ewe mutton from September until January.
Daughter Elsa, 23, has been selected as a National Sheep Association next generation ambassador this year and is keen to develop the farm’s flock of 150 crossbred ewes.
Mary-Grace Mason of Penn Farm near Ashburton - Apprentice of The Year (sponsored by the Cornwall College Group)
Mary has excelled from the get-go both practically on farm and academically in college.
Having grown up on a smallholding, she had a passion for agriculture and particularly for livestock.
She secured her apprenticeship on a farm working on a 200 dairy cow dairy unit.
Mary’s attention to detail in every aspect of her job role shines through - particularly with animal welfare.
In college, she has led the way for her peers to follow, as one of her tutors highlighted in the South West Farmer Award nomination: “She has certainly set the bench high!
“There is no doubt that Mary has a bright future in our industry, she’s an asset for any employer.”
Rob Halliday of Hepwell Farm near Liskeard - New Entrant/Tenant Farmer award (sponsored by Rowett Insurance)
Rob began his own farming career in 2008 where he successfully tendered and took on a Cornwall Council starter farm in East Cornwall.
Today he has grown the business to incorporate 400 acres on share and tenant farming agreements with approximately 350 head of cattle and 140 ewes incorporating NZ Romney genetics, all as a closed system.
He is eager for the farming voice to be heard as a collective and is currently chair of Cornwall NFU.
Rob is a passionate farmer - a great example of a progressive, hardworking and forward-thinking tenant farmer.
Chris and Rachel Knowles of Trink Dairy in St Ives - Diversification Award (sponsored by Fisher German)
The couple have successfully diversified their business to complement the core business and turned a basic commodity into a high-quality award-winning product.
Rachel has created a strong enterprise which pasteurises milk on the farm, maintaining all the flavour and texture of raw milk, which is a simple yet very effective system.
The Knowles now sell their milk from the farm vending machine to farm shops, coffee shops and restaurants, as well as delivering to local pre-schools and nurseries.
Rachel said: “We are immensely proud of what we have achieved and believe we have a business fit for the future and ready for the next generation.”
Tom Hammett from Devon - Outstanding Achievement award (sponsored by Cornish Mutual)
Tom has been volunteering at Devon County Show since 1965 and this year presided over the show.
He has been a dedicated livestock farmer all his life, but he was also county chairman and trustee of young farmers in Devon for some 40 years.
Today, Tom remains a trustee of the Devon Farmer’s Benevolent Fund.
He said: “Being Show President is a big step up from my first role which was as a livestock steward while I was still in my early twenties.
“I’m so looking forward to the show, getting out and about on the showground, playing a role I love, promoting British farming and British food to the Devon community.
“Bring it on!”
Di Wastenage MBE from Wastenage Farms Ltd near Budleigh Salterton - Inspirational Female in Agriculture (sponsored by The Family Law Co)
Award-winning Devon dairy farmer Di has become the first female chairman of the Royal Association of British Dairy Farmers (RABDF).
She is a director of her family’s dairy farming business and received an MBE in the Queen’s 2021 New Year’s Honours for her services to UK agriculture.
In her role as vice chairman at RABDF, Di has contributed to a wide range of topics, including the environment, animal health and welfare, and encouraging young entrepreneurs and new entrants into agriculture.
Through her role as Patron of Women in Dairy, she showcases the exciting opportunities for women in the sector.
The Bartlett family from East Shilvinghampton Farm near Weymouth - The Family-Run Farm of the Year award (sponsored by Shearwell Data)
The Bartlett family has owned a farm since 1938 and are fourth generation, so Martin Bartlett and family are now running the farm.
Down on the farm is the true sense of ‘family’ as the Bartletts enjoy showing visitors around the farm, meeting the animals and taking a popular tour around the farmyard and surrounding area.
Their son Henry looks after the alpacas and visitors can take them on a walk for a small fee
Limousin cows make up the Shilvington herd and all the animals are part of a national farm assured scheme.
Eversfield Organic near Okehampton - Beef Farmer of the Year award (sponsored by Allflex)
Eversfield Organic are an award-winning, family-run organic farm in Devon, producing organic 100 per cent grass fed beef in the south west - and beyond.
Their work on the farm using regenerative farming methods produces delicious, nutritious organic beef with a string of accolades, using heritage Aberdeen Angus cattle.
Founder and farmer Mark Bury works closely with the Rare Breeds Survival Trust (RBST) to keep his herd in good stead, and the farm and on-site butchery are Soil Association and Pasture for Life Certified.
Holly Purdey of Horner Farm near Minehead - Sustainability Champion of the Year award (sponsored by Strutt & Parker)
Holly and her husband have worked tirelessly to design a system that showcases a farming system that is biodiverse, storing carbon and providing high-quality nutritional meat and eggs to her local co-op.
They farm multiple species of animals, cattle, sheep, goats and chickens to enhance the ecosystem through while utilising the whole farm.
They graze rotationally and have long grass swards.
The couple carry out a whole farm carbon audit and are sequestering carbon - the last report was 600 tonnes sequestration.
Niall Tewson of Crokers Grange Farm in Ipplepen - Young Farmer of the Year award (sponsored by Coodes Solicitors)
At just 25 years old, Niall has started a new dairy farm from scratch.
Niall convinced his father to move away from lamb and beef and instead to establish a dairy farm with a herd of Jersey cows.
He said: “Moving to dairy was the best thing I’ve ever done, in financial terms, lifestyle terms and for my own development.”
Although the farm has been prospering, rising energy prices have been eroding South Devon Dairy’s profit margins.
He is currently looking at installing solar panels on his parlour and selling ice cream and milk directly from the farm.
Richard Dayment of Dayment Farming near Totnes - Dairy Farmer of the Year Award (sponsored by Mole Valley Farmers)
Richard was nominated by his bank manager, Simon Abdilla of Lloyds Bank Agriculture, who called him “truly an inspiration to the industry”.
Richard set up his business in 2018 as a tenant on his uncle’s farm and is now renting his father’s land, too.
He began by running a herd of autumn calving grass based cows and is now farming 400 cows - up from 120 in less than three years.
Simon said Richard’s business plan is “comprehensive and inspiring”.
If you would like to nominate your farming champion for the South West Farmer Awards 2023 click here.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here