FW Lifetime Achievement Award 2022: Call for nominations

Agriculture is an industry full of amazing people who have been making a difference for decades – and our Lifetime Achievement Award acknowledges precisely this.

The recipient of this prestigious accolade, named as part of our annual Awards programme, will be someone who has made a sustained difference over many decades to agriculture or farmers and their families. 

See also: Farmers Weekly Awards 2021: Lifetime Achievement

From peers of the realm and charity supporters to ag college academics and farming writers, our roll call of winners represents a real cross-section of those who have devoted a lifetime to the service of our industry.

Those in the farming community are often reticent about stepping into the spotlight, but every year this award says a huge “thank you” to someone who has gone the extra mile over a prolonged period. 

The winner last year was Bill Clark, whose work over a career spanning 40-plus years, including nearly a decade as Niab technical director, brought huge benefits to farmers in terms of agronomic decision-making.

In 2020, it was HRH The Prince of Wales who collected the honours. He has been an advocate for British farming, highlighting its importance, raising awareness of the issues affecting it and fighting to secure its future. 

He also started the Prince’s Countryside Fund, which began as a personal “passion project” but grew to become one that benefits thousands in rural communities.

In 2018, the winner was Revd Dr Gordon Gatward, a Methodist minister who has worked tirelessly and selflessly in a host of capacities.

Thousands have benefited from his support and kindness, with his roles spanning everything from being chairman of the Farm Crisis Network (now the Farming Community Network), chairman of Care Farming UK and a board member of Linking Environment And Farming (Leaf).

We want to hear your suggestions for contenders for the 2022 winner. You don’t even need to know the person put forward – it might be someone who you simply admire.

That said, it could also be someone you work with, or a relative, friend or colleague who deserves to have their hard work recognised.