South West Farmer Awards 2023 finalists are announced

Now in its eighth year, the awards celebrate farmers, suppliers, breeders and everyone involved in the industry, giving them the recognition they deserve.

The winners will be announced at a black tie awards dinner in November 2023.

Beef farmer of the year award

•  Bill & Suzanne Harper, Trepoyle Farm in Cornwall 

Bill and Suzanne have a beef and sheep farm, and their aim is to sustain good grass growth and produce meat from grass with less fertiliser.

Building on the foundations of regenerative agriculture, Bill and Suzanne have developed their own set of nine principles of sustainable livestock farming. These include introducing more diverse species when reseeding or overseeding, taking a diagnostic approach to animal health, and keeping their cattle out of watercourses to avoid poaching and pollution.

• Jason and Amelia Greenway, Springwater Farm in Devon

Jason and Amelia rear their own organic certified and pedigree highland cattle, which have a grass-fed only diet. The pair aim to be as sustainable as possible. The cattle graze over 400 acres which they rent off the National Trust and a small number of private landlords.

• Steve Hunt, Furze Hill Cross in Devon 

Steve is a beef farmer and he has been nominated for helping the elderly and other farmers in the area when needed. 

Dairy farmer of the year award

•  Stephen & Graham Radford, Buttermoor Farm in Devon 

Buttermoor is a family farm that supplies Arla with milk from its calving heard of 220 milking cows. The farm runs with mainly family labour including Graham and his wife Abi, Graham’s parents Stephen and Carol, as well as full-time employee, Paul and part-time employee, Alan.

The farm milks the herd through four Lely robots, the first of which was installed in 2013 and the latest in 2021, installed purely to accommodate the milking heifers.

•  Gorwyn Pitts, Brocks Farm Dairy in Devon

Gorwyn is not from a traditional farming generational background but has 400 cows on the family-fun farm. 

• John & Simon Martin, Nunton Farm in Wiltshire

This is one of the largest grazing based dairy farms in the South of England and is run as a family farm in partnership with the landlord. They milk 800 cows through a modern rotary parlour. 

•  Jamie Baker, Wick Farm in Somerset 

At just 20 years old, Jamie went home to look after the dairy herd which was being sold by his grandfather, as he was due to retire. With the help and support from family, friends and outside support, Jamie has gone from 60 cows to 130 cows in milk in six years. 

Family run farm of the year award

• Padfield Porkies, Totterdown Farm in  Wiltshire

The farm is family run with an indoor pig unit. They have a butchery and catering kitchen on farm and supply local puds, restaurants, farm shops and village shops both raw and cooked pork. They also run a hog roast and catering business. 

• Neil Parkhouse/Anita Oatey/Derek Parkhouse, Treveor Farm 

This is a large scale dairy farm that milks around 700 cows, three times a day. They supply milk for Cathedral City cheese. They also run 74 acres of rented pasture with a flock of 210 sheep, which are bred for shows and to keep rare breeds alive. 

• Darke Family, Coleridge Farm 

There are four generations who are still actively farming on the farm, from great grandpa (81 years old) to the youngest member of the family who is just one year old. This is a well established dairy farm that also has a flock of seep. Recently, they have put in a milk vending machine that provides fresh milk and milkshakes for locals. 

Sustainability champion award

• Bill & Suzanne Harper, Trepoyle Farm in Cornwall 

Bill and Suzanne have a beef and sheep farm, and their aim is to sustain good grass growth and produce meat from grass with less fertiliser.

Building on the foundations of regenerative agriculture, Bill and Suzanne have developed their own set of nine principles of sustainable livestock farming. These include introducing more diverse species when reseeding or overseeding, taking a diagnostic approach to animal health, and keeping their cattle out of watercourses to avoid poaching and pollution.

• The Slow Farming Company, Rob Snook and Ed White along with their family, Clanville Manor Farm in Somerset 

Clanville Manor Farm is a beef, pork and chicken farm. Rob, Ed and family have increased soil organic matter levels and added an e-commerce line which sells meat, eggs and homewares. They are also educating the public through open farm days and webinars. 

• Hugh Taylor, Bosavern Community Farm

Bosavern Community farm is 37 acres of Cornish countryside. Hugh has managed volunteers, directors, trustees and the land. The community farm is one of the UK's most successful CSA schemes, which has inspired hundreds of growers worldwide through the WWOOFA scheme and volunteers locally.

The diversification award 

• Rodney Gregory, Kerling Farm in Cornwall 

Rodney sold his whole herd of pedigree beef Charolais five years ago to pay for his duaghters wedding. He was made redundant three years ago. He is now the biggest duck egg suplier in the UK after he started a new business called Valley Ducks. Rodney built everything himself including sheds and yards during the first lockdown. 

He now has more than 10,000 laying ducks and also rears thousands of ducks for others. Rodney has also started his beef herd again. 

• Meggy Moo's Dairy, Park Farm in Dorset 

Meggy Moo's Dairy produce dairy products using milk from their herd of Holstein-Friesian cattle. They have a farm shop and also supply products to other retailers and hospitality businesses across Dorset. They have won numerous awards including one for Conservation & Environmental Sustainability in recognition of their reusable milk pail system. It allows retailers to offer customers the ability to refill a glass bottle with milk without the need of a vending machine. 

• Knights Care Farm in Devon 

This is a working commercial farm, run by Emily and Luke Knight and their three young children. They work with local secondary schools to provide alternative education for those who do not thrive in a convential school environment. They also provide daycare for individuals aged 12-65 with learning disabilities and social needs. 

Sheep farmer of the year award

• Hannah Reddaway, Tuckenhay Farm in Devon 

After working in London, Hannah made the decision to return to her family's dairy and beef farm in 2021. She also set up her own sheep flock last year and she now manages 200 north country mules, while also training her own sheep dog so she can run the flock on her own. 

Hannah has also become an influential advocate for the agricultual industry, with appearances on the BBC and in both Farmers Guardian and Farmers Weekly. 

•  Bill & Suzanne Harper, Trepoyle Farm in Corwall

Bill and Suzanne have a beef and sheep farm, and their aim is to sustain good grass growth and produce meat from grass with less fertiliser.

Building on the foundations of regenerative agriculture, Bill and Suzanne have developed their own set of nine principles of sustainable livestock farming. These include introducing more diverse species when reseeding or overseeding, taking a diagnostic approach to animal health, and keeping their cattle out of watercourses to avoid poaching and pollution.

• Thomas Nancekivell, Heatham Farm in Cornwall

Thomas has had his own flock of sheep since he was 11 years old. He regularly takes part in shows at Royal Cornwall and one day shows such as Woolsery and Holsworthy. He was chair of Bradworthy YFC in 2022 and raised £6,000 for the British Heart Foundation. He will be the chair of the Tarka YF group in 2024.

The farm has 500 cattle and 550 breeding ewes. They also grow around 90 acres of arable in  rotation of wheat, barley maize and fodder rape. 

New entrant/tenant farmer award 

• Jason & Amelia Greenway, Springwater Farm in Devon 

Jason and Amelia rear their own organic certified and pedigree highland cattle, which have a grass-fed only diet. The pair aim to be as sustainable as possible. The cattle graze over 400 acres which they rent off the National Trust and a small number of private landlords.

• Will & Dani, Trefronick Farm in Cornwall 

In just five years, the pair have built up a flock of 100 ewes and 100 beef suckler cows. They also have two holiday lets with AirBnb. They are not from a farming background, but carry out all the work on the farm themselves. 

• Mat and Chrissie Crossman, Church Farm in Wiltshire

Mat and Chrissie set up a Moo2yoo milk vending machine business on a farm in 2020, going from one machine to five in just three years. Now they have their own tenancy on a 200 acre farm and are buying 110 cows from the retiring farmer. They supply fellow dairy farmers with their own British made milkshake syrups. 

Apprentice/student award

• Rosie Squire, Duchy College

Rosie comes from a beef and sheep farm in Devon. Her hopes are to become a farm animal technician or specialist. She grew up on a famliy farm with her great grandparents, grandparents, parents and her siblings. 

• Jake Knapman 

Jake is working on the family farm as an apprentice and shows great interest in both the farming and administrativeside of the business. He enjoys his days in college and often brings back ideas of things they can do on the farm. 

Inspirational woman in agriculture 

• Hannah Reddaway, Tuckenhay Farm in Devon 

After working in London, Hannah made the decision to return to her family's dairy and beef farm in 2021. She also set up her own sheep flock last year and she now manages 200 north country mules, while also training her own sheep dog so she can run the flock on her own. 

Hannah has also become an influential advocate for the agricultual industry, with appearances on the BBC and in both Farmers Guardian and Farmers Weekly. 

• Rosie Bennett, Lane End Farm in Devon 

Rosie has dedicated the last 15 years of her life to the young farmers and is now the national chairman of the YFC. She represented YFC at Downing Street during the Food Summit and at the NFU Conference. She has helped young farmers gain access to the farming industry and was awarded the compassion award through FCN, helping others in the farming industry. 

• Emma Smith, Westfield in Wiltshire 

Emma used to farm red ruby Devon cattle, but then went on to complete a BSc at Duchy College. She built a life in Surrey in 2014 after she met her now husband. She was offerred a farm business tenancy in Wiltshire in 2015, where she farmed pedigree Herefordsm Ruby Reds and beef  Shorthorns. She also has her own foot trimming and semen collection business. 

Emma launched The Young Stock Magazine in March 2021, after completing an MA in children's publishing in 2020. 

Young farmer award

• Jason Greenway, Farthings Farm in Devon 

Jason is a first generation farmer who owned more than 100 highlands and over 50 pigs. He rents more than 500 acres through his small business, Springwater Farm. Jason was only 23 when he started the business and is now just 26. He is involved in many conservation projects involving the cattle and pigs, but also workes closely with the National Trust on other environmental projects. 

• Thomas Stinton, Cools Farm in Wiltshire 

Thomas is a first generation farmer, who has always been passionate about having his own farm. He started with farming Shetland sheep when he was just 12/13 and has now expanded into more commercial breeds. In 2021 he was chosen for a share farm position and has expanded the existing herd of pedigree red poll cattle.

• Thomas Nancekivell, Heatham Farm in Cornwall

Thomas has had his own flock of sheep since he was 11 years old. He regularly takes part in shows at Royal Cornwall and one day shows such as Woolsery and Holsworthy. He was chair of Bradworthy YFC in 2022 and raised £6,000 for the British Heart Foundation. He will be the chair of the Tarka YF group in 2024.

The farm has 500 cattle and 550 breeding ewes. They also grow around 90 acres of arable in  rotation of wheat, barley maize and fodder rape.