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NFU award winners named

- 07 February 2001
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7 February 2001



NFU award winners named

By FWi staff

A PRODUCER from Herefordshire has picked up the NFU presidents award for the Young Farmer of the Year.

Sam Williams of Eskey Sheep Milk Supplies received the award, which was sponsored by Tesco and FARMERS WEEKLY, at ceremony held in London on Tuesday (6 February).

Runner-up in the category was David Exwood of Itchingfield Farms, West Sussex.

The presidents awards, which now in their third year, are designed to celebrate excellence and innovation in farming.

NFU president Ben Gill said: “Both the winners and runners-up have shown great enterprise.

“They are the leading lights who serve as inspiring role models for the rest of the industry, crucial in these difficult times.”

Other winners were as follows:


  • Robert Kynaston of Great Wollaston, Shropshire     won the Biodiversity Award – sponsored by English Nature and Farming News. The runner-up was the Stody Estate in Norfolk.


  • Jan McCourt of Northfield Farm, Rutland     received the Great British Food Award – sponsored by Sainsburys and BBC Good Food magazine. The runner-up was Ian Whitehead of Lane Farm Country Foods, Suffolk.


  • Miranda Shufflebottom of Cheerbrook Quality Farm Food, Cheshire     was named the Farming Woman of the Year – sponsored by Safeway and Farmers Guardian. Runner-up was Veronica Shilton of Yew Tree Farm Livery Stables & Horse Transport, Shropshire.


  • John Davies of S & A Davies, Hereford     won the Farming Entrepreneur of the Year award – sponsored by Asda and The Grocer. The runner-up was Peter Barfoot of Barfoots of Botley Ltd, West Sussex.


  • Ben Wonnacott    , 15, received a special mention at the awards ceremony for starting his own farming business two years ago, while still at school and on a limited budget.


  • Francis Crocker from Trevigue, Cornwall     won the Presidents Special Award. The prize is sponsored by The Daily Telegraph and reserved for those who, in NFU President Ben Gills opinion, have made an outstanding contribution to the industry.


  • A special mention was also made of Kevin Blackwell at Black Cap Farm, Firle, East Sussex for exceptional bravery in rescuing more than 60 cattle in the floods last October.


  • Another special mention went to Johnny Ball for his role as an outstanding ambassador and host of the NFUs Food and Farming Roadshow, sponsored by Sainsburys, and as a tireless champion of the little red tractor.

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