Farmers Weekly Awards 2026: Farming Champion of the Year

Hawkstone Farmers Choir have won the 2026 Farmers Weekly Farming Champion of the Year Award.

The choir assembled by Jeremy Clarkson for a beer advertising campaign have gone on to spread a positive message of mental health awareness, resilience, hope and community across the nation.

See also: FW Awards 2026: Meet the finalists

The choir, put together after an open call to audition, put this new-found fame to great use – singing across Britain to inspire rural communities and share important messages about mental health. 

The ensemble choir, which epitomises a spirit of camaraderie, even won the TV show Britain’s Got Talent (BGT), netting members the opportunity to perform at the Royal Variety Performance in November.

Founded to promote Hawkstone beer and highlight the plight of British farms and pubs, the group have remained together and performed at many events, including this year’s Royal Welsh Show where they sang the hymn “Calon Lân”. 

They already have a spring 2027 tour planned, taking in such venues as Birmingham’s Symphony Hall, Torquay’s Princess Theatre and Swansea Grand Theatre, and have recorded an album due to be released this autumn.

The group have described their BGT win and rise to fame as “a victory for British farming, a victory for community, a victory for kindness, a victory for everybody who believes nobody should have to face their struggles alone”.

Choir member and Oxfordshire farmer James Florey says: “I feel really strongly about trying to raise awareness of the struggles farmers are facing. There are a lot of people going through tough times and it’s important they know that, if they’re struggling with their mental health, they’re not alone.

“Hopefully we are highlighting the positive benefits of taking a little time to step away from the farm, and what that can do for your own wellbeing.

“We’re trying to encourage people to find something outside farming which brings them solace and joy and that they can look forward to. It needn’t be singing – it could be anything!”

Somerset farmer Andy Fussell, who is in the choir with his wife Lesley, says: “People think farmers are tough and able to withstand everything that’s thrown at them, but we’re just the same as everybody else. There is a lot of risk involved in what we do, both physical and financial.

“We are influenced by factors that are out of our control, so sometimes you do the best you can but you still get it wrong – and it’s not your fault. Farmers work long hours, often on their own, so have a lot of time to think – maybe too much time to think.

“Our message is to share problems, talk and spend time with others. If we can save one person from taking their own life then it’s worth it.

“Choirs can have a reputation for being a bit formal, but they’re great fun, a fantastic way of making friends and give people the chance to get off farm for an hour or two.”

According to Andy, the most moving moment of his involvement was singing the BGT winning song, “This is Home”.

“As farmers, it’s all about home and family. The lyrics of that song meant so much to me. They really connected with other people, too.

“Hopefully our choir is displaying how united farmers are. In fact, we hope it’ll inspire others to find ways to bring their communities together – whether in farming, the wider countryside or even the urban population. Basically, anyone who feels they’ve been forgotten, overlooked or haven’t got a voice.”