16 | FRIDAY AUGUST 22 2014 WWW.FARMERSGUARDIAN.COM 2014 finalists revealed Sponsored by: H aving received an overwhelming number of entries from farmers across the UK and following extensive deliberation, Farmers Guardian is proud to announce the finalists for the 2014 British Farming Awards. The awards aim to celebrate innovative and determined farmers who have, and are, making changes to their business in a bid to successfully grow and secure a future in British agriculture. The awards recognise all of farming’s core sectors and there is additional recognition for new entrants and family farms – two sectors Farmers Guardian regularly champions because of their fundamental importance to the industry. New for this year is the Farming Partnership award, which due to the range of entries we received we have spilt into two sections, private businesses and more corporate partnerships involving much larger numbers. Due to the sheer volume of response we received for the Diversification Innovator award – and the subsequent quality of entries – we have also split this category according to the size and scale of the businesses entered. Farmers Guardian editor Emma Penny said: “To receive such a great level of entries in what is only the event’s second year is amazing. A massive thank you to everyone who took the time to enter and congratulations to those who made the shortlist. We very much look forward to celebrating with you at the awards on October 23.” What happens next? The finalists have each been interviewed by a member of the Farmers Guardian team. The results of the indepth interviews will be provided to and discussed by our 33-strong panel of judges who are responsible for deciding the overall winners. The winners will be announced at the awards presentation evening, this year being held at Chateau Impney Hotel, Droitwich Spa, Worcestershire, on Thursday, October 23. 1 Stephen Cragg, East Close Farm 2 Andy Fussell, Church Farm 3 Stephen Jones, British Quinoa 4 Richard and Cordelia Squires, P. Squire Bassmead Manor 1 William Allingham, Quadcrate 2 Bruce Robertson, Zedlock 3 Richard Scholes, Cultivating Solutions 4 Bill Rushton and Matt Smith, Tractor Guard 5 R. Pexton and Son, multi-use drill 1 Arthur Callaghan, Harper Adams University 2 Ross Edwards, Harper Adams University 3 Rebecca Kelsall, Harper Adams University 4 Grace Munro, Harper Adams University 5 Beccy Walters, Duchy College 1 East of Anglia Co-operative 2 FarmStay UK 3 PG Saunders partnering with OMSCo 1 Jo and Ed Cartwright, Swillington Organic Farm 2 Rosie Hetherington and Harry Griffiths 3 Anthony and Ruth Key, Ilexlignum herd 4 Simon and Nick Melling, Roaming Roosters 5 Jools Turner and Phil White, Newpole Livestock 1 The Chesters family, Millmoor Farm 2 The Johnson family, Philip Johnson and daughters 3 The Marston family, Messrs D. and C.E. Marston 4 The Priestley family, J.M. and S.M. Priestley 5 The Richards family, Ridgend Farm 6 The Vernon family, Northwood Hall Farming Partnership of the Year (corporate) Farming Partnership of the Year (private) Agricultural Student of the Year Arable Innovator of the Year For more on this year’s finalists, visit Machinery Innovator of the Year Family Farming Business of the Year