Farming excellence celebrated
The cream of Devon’s farming world came together last night for the renowned Devon Farm Business Awards.
The event saw representatives from all aspects of Devon’s huge farming industry come together at the Devon County Showground at Westpoint, last night in order to celebrate farming excellence.
The Blue Riband award, of Devon Farmer of the Year, went to Peter and Di Wastenage of East Budleigh, for their superbly managed, pasture-based dairy farming business, which encompasses four dairy herds and a 1,000 head goat milking enterprise. They also won Dairy Farmer of the Year for their highly innovative low cost approach to milk production.
Jerry Alford, who farms at Silverton and has transformed the fortunes of the co-operative Devon Grain since taking over as its chairman, won the accolade of Devon Farming Champion.
The Lifetime Achievement award went to Mary Quicke of Newton St Cyres, who has been setting the standard for dairy farming and cheese-making in Devon for many years, and whose Quicke’s Traditional Cheddar is now exported to many countries around the world.
Nicky Bishop, of Feniton in East Devon, was named Best Woman Farmer, for the way in which, at just 23, she has taken over the running of the family dairy farm, after the sadly early death of her father Colin this year.
Robert Lanning won the Commercial Farmer category, for his hugely successful chicken business based at Sheldon near Honiton, which now produces over 3.5 million chicken a year.
Best Diversification was won by Greg Page-Turner, for the office lets and self-catering holiday accommodation which has given a new lease of life to a small East Devon livestock farm near Honiton.
Judges had to wait until the very eve of the awards dinner to decide upon Young Farmer of the Year, as one of the short-listed applicants was on his way back from sheep-shearing in Greece!
The award was eventually won by David Camp who started his farming business as a teenager with a small group of his grandfather’s South Devon cows and has expanded it by renting bits of land whenever the opportunity has presented itself, using his earnings from sheep shearing and relief milking to build up his herd and flock.
At 31-years-old, David now keeps a herd of 150 pedigree South Devons, a flock of 400 mule ewes and a pedigree flock of 50 Whitefaced Dartmoors, as well as growing 80-100 acres of cerealson his land.
But if those were the highlights, then Ian Bell, of the ARC Addington Trust, who worked closely with the Devon County Agricultural Association in organising the awards, said that the biggest winner of all was the farming industry in Devon.
“The quality of the short-listed applicants in every category was quite superb”, he said. “Our seven winners are fit to stand comparison with any farms in the world for enterprise, efficiency, determination, market focus, concern for the environment and all of the other qualities that you need to run an award-winning farming business.
“Between them, they are a wonderful advertisement for the dynamism and diversity of farming in Devon, and an inspiring example for others to follow.”
That theme was picked up by Rihard Maunder, Chief Exechcutive of the DCAA, who said that, by promoting and encouraging excellence, the awards were one of the best ways for the Association to achieve its mission of taking the industry forward.
“And what is particularly exciting and encouraging is that most of the winners are younger farmers, which fits perfectly with the “youth and opportunity” theme of this year’s Devon County Show and demonstrates that the future of farming in Devon is in good hands, ” he said.
The awards were generously sponsored by leading rural solicitors, Stephens and Scown LLP. Phil Reed, partner and head of rural services, who presented the awards, said: “It has been a privilege to support the inaugural Devon Farm Business Awards. The winners and nominees demonstrate the very best of the industry with their dedication, innovation and passion.
Farming is not a ‘job’, it is a way of life, and it is fantastic to get a chance to celebrate these successful farmers and farm businesses. The future of farming in Devon is looking bright.”
Photos by Geoff Pagatto
