2010 FW Awards: Showcase your achievements

Cast modesty aside and enter the 2010 Farmers Weekly Awards. It’s a great opportunity to showcase you, and your team’s, achievements. Debbie Beaton describes the entry process

How do you enter the Farmers Weekly Awards? It’s easy and free. Either download an entry form or complete one online at www.farmersweeklyawards.co.uk. Or we can send you one – ring Marion on 020 8652 4081.

There are five questions on all the entry forms, which are designed to tease out your achievements in five areas. Each category has a slightly different variation, but they cover the five areas outlined below. Don’t hold back, however, from telling us about your business and personal achievements if they don’t fall within these five areas:

• Your business

The judges need a picture of your business, its growth and achievements, what you do and your plans for the future. Describing your productivity and profit growth, cost management, how you have added value, restructured or built new infrastructure are all relevant.

• Your technical skills

Whether you’re a livestock or arable farmer, contractor or countryside entrant, we need to know what technical skills and tools you are using to drive productivity and cost efficiencies – be it through machinery and labour restructuring, machinery innovations, technical tools, benchmarking, innovative breeding techniques, disease and nutritional management.

• Market strategy

Who is your customer[s], how do you manage market volatility and what you do to keep customer loyalty, or expand your reach to new markets? Evidence of supply chain contracts and or processor/retailer relationships will add weight to your entry. Promotional leaflets, and your website if you have one or cuttings if you have ever appeared in the press are great supporting evidence

• Your social and environmental responsibilities

Farming plays an important role in society – as food producers, custodians of the countryside, producers of green energy, managers of waste and protectors of animal welfare. What are you doing to tell others about the important role you play today? Perhaps you are hosting school visits, YFC events or farm walks?

This is also your chance to tell us about your commitment to the surrounding environment. Maybe you farm in an environmentally restrictive area, NVZ or SSSI, you may be part of a stewardship scheme or have taken advantage of grants to help manage wildlife species.

• Leadership and the future

This is all about your business vision and plans for the future in terms of expansion. This is also about your contribution to the wider industry. Tell us about your involvement with discussion or steering groups working alongside industry bodies, such as the NFU, EBLEX, levy bodies or local community groups.

What winning meant for the 2009 Award Winners

Putting yourself in the spotlight has untold rewards for you and your team. But don’t take our word for it, hear it from our winners:

Andrew Gloag

Arable Farmer of the Year, sponsored by British Sugar

“Taking part in the awards has been a wonderful experience. To have one’s business policies and decisions analysed to such exacting standards really adds credibility and confidence to you and your business.”

Peter Riley

Arable Adviser of the Year

“Being a finalist was great, being called to the stage on the awards evening was something very special. Being successful was particularly pleasing, considering the quality of the other finalists, and reflects on all of the Prime Agriculture team.”

Alistair Bull

Beef Farmer of the Year, sponsored by McDonald’s

“The pride that I felt going up to the stage to receive the award was terrific. I felt 10ft tall. When I got back to work the next day I thought right what can we do to improve? The award has been a great motivator. I know there are excellent beef farmers all over the UK, so go for it – they are inspirational.”

Charles Baker

Contractor of the Year, sponsored by JCB

“We are a true family business and we are very proud of what we have achieved over the years. To have this formally recognised through the Farmers Weekly Awards has been a big boost to all the staff and everyone involved.”

Anthony Gothard

Dairy Farmer of the Year, sponsored by DairyCo

“Winning this award was a great pat on the back for me personally and for the team who have worked so hard. The icing on the cake will be if we have a boost in our ice-cream sales this summer.”

James Price who won Young Farmer of the Year, sponsored by Massey Ferguson says the title looks great on his CV.

Caroline and William Alexander

Diversification Farmer of the Year, sponsored by Firestone

“Winning the 2009 Diversification Farmer of the Year was very rewarding personally for us and our staff. More important it has confirmed to our customers and farm visitors that we are a nationally recognised professional farming business, that has successfully developed new enterprises alongside traditional agriculture.”

Nick Padwick,

Farmer of the Year and Farm Manager of the Year, sponsored by Claas

“I never went into farming thinking I could win an award, but my goodness when you do win, it’s a fantastic morale booster for everyone involved and raises the profile of the work you are doing, both internally and externally.”

Russell Armstrong

Green Energy Farmer of the Year, sponsored by Marks and Spencer

“The award is great recognition for all the hard work my team and many others have put in to make the farm what it is today. It’s been a great experience.”

Robert Mintern

Livestock Adviser, sponsored by Silotite

“The entire experience has been great. When I was nominated I truly believed it was out of my league but my confidence grew when I gathered my portfolio. If you really enjoy your job and put everything into helping the industry, I recommend taking part.”

Steve and Heather Tucker,

Local Food Farmer of the Year, sponsored by Asda

“We were amazed when our names were called out at the awards ceremony. We are proud of what we have achieved at White Row and winning the award makes it all worthwhile. We would urge all farmers who produce, rear or grow their own produce to enter.”

Martin Barker

Pig Farmer of the Year

“I was delighted to win the award, the competition was tough and I thought the other candidates were just as worthy. I believe the industry benefits from the knowledge transfer element of the awards process and promoting best practice or ideas within the industry can only be a good thing.”

David Speller

Poultry Farmer of the Year, sponsored by Cherry Valley

“The award has been acknowledged by my friends, my peers, my customers and also my bank. The highlight, so far, is receiving a bottle of bubbly delivered personally by my bank manager. These awards really are taken notice of by all in the agricultural sector and I encourage everyone with a business they are proud of to enter.”

Chris and Caroline Hogdkins

Sheep Farmer of the Year

“Entering the Farmers Weekly Awards took us well out of our comfort zone, but has proved to be one of the best things we ever did. It has generated a lot of new interest in our farming system, resulting in increased stock sales. On a recent stock sourcing trip to New Zealand, the FW award resulted in us being invited to judge at The Royal New Zealand Show, a live interview on New Zealand radio, and an article in their top magazine. Good news travels fast.”

James Price

Young Farmer of the Year, sponsored by Massey Ferguson

“Winning the award has really raised my profile, but the high point was being interviewed by Gordon Ramsay on The F-word. Everyone who is proud of what they have achieved should enter. It forces you to record how your business has changed, which makes a great CV.”