Melplash Agricultural Society’s Farms and Crops competition

Melplash Agricultural Society organises the annual competition for farms within a 12-mile radius of Melplash Village Church. The winners will be presented with their cups at the Melplash Show on Thursday, August 22. 

Each farm is visited by a team of judges who will walk the farm and look at the husbandry of the crops and livestock, how well the environment is cared for and the maintenance of machinery and fixed assets. The judges will also talk to the farmer to find out how they manage the business and their plans for the future. 

A special award in each category is given for conservation and environmental practice, these winners will receive a Kitson & Trotman Pepetual Challenge Trophy.

The competition is sponsored by Woolley & Wallis estate agents. 

Results 

Small farm: 199 acres or fewer 

Judges: Paul Dyer and Georgie Dyer
Steward: John Yeates 

• 1st place and winner of RM Gillingham Challenge Cup – Mr Tom Shepard, South Wraxall Farm, Cattistock
• 2nd - Mr Ed Marsh, Powerstock Mill Farm, Powerstock, Bridport, Dorset
• 3rd - R I Geddes & Partners, Colesmoor Farm, Toller Porcorum
• Winner of the Kitson & Trotman Perpetual Challenge Trophy for the Best Conservation Environmental Practice (Small) - R I Geddes & Partners, Colesmoor Farm, Toller Porcorum

Tom Shepard (Image: Melplash Agricultural Society)

Medium Farm: 200-599 acres

Judges: James and Jane Elwood 
Steward: Robert Bowditch 

• 1st and winner of The Burrough Perpetual Challenge Cup – Messrs Tim and Bernard Newman, Larkham Farm
• Joint 2nd - Mr Edward and Mrs Joanna Goodfellow, Higher Silkhay Farm, Netherbury
• Joint 2nd - Mr Andy Sprake, Zephen Farms Limited, Langton Herring
• Winner of the Kitson & Trotman Perpetual Challenge Trophy for the Best Conservation Environmental Practice (Medium) - Tim and Bernard Newman, Larkham Farm, Evershot

Large Farm: over 600 acres  

Judges: Ed and Josh Hiscock
Steward: Dan Newman

• 1st and winner of The David Williams Bart Memorial Cup – Mr Ed Bowditch, Cooper Dean Estate
• 2nd - Mr Gareth Beynon, Rampisham Manor Farms
• 3rd - Mr Stephen Raymond, Childhay Manor
• 4th - Sir Philip Colfox, Symondsbury Estate
• Winner of the Kitson & Trotman Perpetual Challenge Trophy for the Best Conservation Environmental Practice (Large) – Mr Gareth Beynon, Rampisham Manor Farms

Crop and Grassland classes

Judges: David and Ben Chick 
Steward: Dan Newman

• Short-term cutting - 1st: Cooper Dean Estate (Ed Bowditch) | 2nd: Childhay Organic Dairy (Steve Raymond) 
• Winter Wheat - 1st: Cooper Dean Estate | 2nd: Evershot Farms 
• Winter Barley - 1st: E & J Goodfellow | 2nd: Zephen Farms Ltd 
• Long-term cutting ley - 1st: Childhay Organic Dairy | 2nd: Zephen Farms Ltd 
• Spring Barley - 1st: Zephen Farms Ltd | 2nd: E & J Goodfellow 
• Arable Silage - 1st: Childhay Organic Dairy