COULD you be the 2021 Northern Farmer of the year?
The annual awards run by Northern Farmer magazine will be held virtually on February 25, and the search for this year’s nominees starts now. It will be the eighth staging of the awards, which celebrate excellence in all sectors of agriculture across the north of England.
Hannah Chapman, editor of Northern Farmer, said after such a difficult 2020, it is more important than ever to celebrate the innovation and dedication of the region’s farmers.
“Little did we know when we staged our 2020 awards back in February with 400 people at Pavilions of Harrogate, that it would be one of the last large-scale events to take place before the national lockdown,” she said.
“Holding the 2021 awards in a virtual format will be very different, but we were determined to find a way of honouring our hardworking farming community, and we are so grateful to our sponsors, in particular principal sponsors Mole Country Stores, for supporting us to do this.
“This is a crucial time for agriculture, with new support systems and overseas trading arrangements on the way, so it’s more important than ever that we come together as an industry to celebrate the achievements of the last 12 months.
“Don’t be shy – get your nominations in as soon as possible!”
There are nine categories in which to make nominations:
FARM MANAGER OF THE YEAR
SHEEP FARMER OF THE YEAR
BEEF FARMER OF THE YEAR
DAIRY FARMER OF THE YEAR
ARABLE FARMER OF THE YEAR
FAMILY-RUN FARM OF THE YEAR
OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT
DIVERSIFICATION OF THE YEAR
YOUNG FARMER OF THE YEAR
- Nominations should be sent by December 21 using the form published in the D&S Times on December 11 and 18, or online at www.darlingtonandstocktontimes.co.uk/farming/awards/
- For sponsorship opportunities, contact Sam Linfoot on 07342 081317 or at sam.linfoot@localiq.co.uk
- More details of how to access the virtual ceremony will be published nearer the time.
THE overall winners for 2020, who took home to Northumberland the coveted title of Northern Farmer of the Year, were husband-and-wife team Andrew and Caroline Hunter, pictured above, of The Steel, Bellingham, who had already won Sheep Farmer of the Year.
Handing over the overall winner award was Sam Holdstock, head of retail agri sales for principal sponsor Mole Country Stores. She said the awards provided a perfect platform to share and acknowledge the best of farming across the whole of the North of England. She added: “Once again, this year’s Northern Farmer Awards highlighted the dedication of farmers across the North of England to manage, innovate and develop their enterprises.
“Such dedication is now ever more important in light of the backdrop of unprecedented social and economic uncertainty. Mole Valley Farmers has supported British agriculture for over 60 years and we continue to be proud sponsors of these awards and to work in partnership with farmers to support food production and animal welfare across the UK.”
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