Staffs farmers take Crown Estate award

18 December 1998

Staffs farmers take Crown Estate award

STAFFORDSHIRE farmers John and Janet Roberts are the winners of the inaugural Crown Estate Farmer of the Year Award.

The Award was made to the Crown Estate farming tenant who, in the view of the judges, Wiltshire farmer Robert Lawton and Crown Estate Commissioner John Norris, demonstrated farming excellence by balancing the needs of a competitive business with environmental responsibility and the needs of the local community.

The award was presented by Crown Estate Chief Executive Christopher Howes in London. “The agricultural industry is undergoing substantial change and this new award has been instigated to recognise the achievements of our tenants who work to master the challenges and seize opportunities,” he said.

Mr and Mrs Roberts farm 243ha (600 acres) based on mixed arable and livestock enterprises at Clive Farm, Patshull Estate, Staffordshire.

Awards of Excellence were presented to the two other finalists Peter and Margaret Jack of Normandy Farm. Bryanston Estate, Dorset and Jim Butler Bromham House Farm, Devizes Estate, Wiltshire.