ONLY a few weeks until the winners of our inaugural Cumbria Farmer Awards are revealed.

Last month we named our 2021 finalists after our judging panel of respected industry and specialists from a wide spectrum of backgrounds tackled the tough job whittling down the entries to just three in each of the 12 categories.

They were so impressed with the high quality of the nominations, they took the unusual step to introduce Judges Special Awards and a Farmers Choice Award.

The search for the county’s farming unsung heroes is organised by Newsquest Cumbria in partnership with Carlisle-based business advisers and accountants, Armstrong Watson.

The judging panel was headed by Andrew Robinson, partner and head of agriculture and farming at Armstrong Watson, which is also sponsoring a further category, the Lifetime Achievement Award, as well as the drinks reception.

Andrew, a farmer’s son, born and bred on a large hill farm in north Cumbria, said after the judging: “The judging day was a very enjoyable and interesting event.

“All of us on the judging team were very impressed by the quality of the applicants and nominations for all the awards.

“The high standard of the entries made the judging quite demanding, but very rewarding and I know when the results are announced the quality will be seen.

“It also gave us real pride as judges to see the wide range of successful farming and food businesses we have in Cumbria and bodes well for the future of the agricultural sector in our region”

Andrew was partnered in the search to find farming’s unsung heroes, by Alistair Mackintosh, west Cumbrian beef and sheep farmer and chairman of Red Tractor Assurance, as well as the National Farmers Union Cumbrian council delegate; Ian Bowness, Aspatria dairy farmer and NFU county chairman; Agricultural Partner at David Allen Accountants in Dalston, Michael Peile; Julia Aglionby, Armathwaite farmer and Executive Director of the Foundation for Common Land; Lois Mansfield, Professor of Upland Landscapes, and Director of Ambleside Campus; Sharon Sloan, Lely Center Longtown general manager; Robert Craig, Nuffield Scholar and Armathwaite dairy farmer; Heather Pritchard, Sales and marketing manager at H&H, based in Carlisle and Adam Day, managing director of The Farmer Network, based in Penrith.

Other category sponsors are Lloyds Ltd, which is sponsoring the Diversification of the Year Award.

Barry Lloyd, Lloyd Ltd chief executive, said: “We at Lloyd Ltd are delighted to sponsor the Diversification of the Year Award as we see so many of our customers branching out into new areas which have agriculture as their foundation, combined with their own individual strengths to offer high-quality, related products and services.

“By attracting a wider audience, the farming sector is strengthening its position in the minds and hearts of British consumers, essential as the industry develops for the future.”

Dalston accountant David Allen, which is sponsoring the Young Farmers’ Club of the Year award. Agricultural Partner Michael Peile said: “The Cumbria Farmer Awards strive to find the county’s farming unsung heroes and are a reminder that the county’s dynamic farmers are the backbone of the food supply chain.

“The awards celebrate the core sectors of farming; dairy, beef, sheep, and machinery. They also celebrate talented youngsters, who are rising stars in the industry.”

Livestock Farmer of the Year, Carlisle-based H&H Group, who said: “This award seeks to recognise commitment and innovation, and a livestock farmer who has shown the way forward for the sector in the past 12 months.”

Contractor of the Year and Dairy Farmer of the Year are sponsored by Carlisle-based Carrs Billington. The animal feed, agricultural supplies and machinery business has a long association with the rural communities it serves. Managing director Mark Cole said: “We are committed to supporting our farmers, so are well aware of the hard work, talent and innovation across the whole sector.”

The Farming Champion category is sponsored by the National Farmers Union (NFU). NFU Cumbria county chairman Ian Bowness said: “Celebrating our Cumbrian farming champions is more important now than at any other time in recent farming history.”

The Land and Environmental Award is sponsored by the University of Cumbria. Professor of Upland Landscapes, and director of Ambleside Campus, Lois Mansfield, said: “We are delighted to sponsor the Land and Environmental Award, supporting what is a critical element of our county’s economy and society, which has shaped the landscape we all cherish.”

The Against All Odds category is sponsored by Lely Center of Longtown. It said: “Having spent the past 10 years in business helping farmers to develop their businesses through automation, we are thrilled to sponsor Against All Odds designed to identify and reward others who have successfully embraced innovation and demonstrated that sheer determination to succeed.”

The Tenant Farmer of the Year award is sponsored by National Trust Cumbria. It said: “Tenanted farms are part of or farming culture in Cumbria, and many smaller, tenanted farms provide the starting point for farmers successful careers. We hope this award generates lots of nominations to share the great examples of work tenants are delivering, and to inspire future tenants to follow in their footsteps.”

The three Judges Special Awards are sponsored by the Lake District National Park Authority, which said: “There is a strong connection to the Lake District National Park Partnership Plan which sets out our collaborative priorities for the future of farming in this significant time of change – with all the potential benefits farming can provide to the World Heritage Site, nature recovery, managing climate change and the Rural and Visitor economies.”

The Farmers Choice Award is sponsored by Myerscough College and University Centre, which said: “The collaboration between Myerscough College and Ullswater Community College, recognises the importance of the future of the agriculture, animal management and arboriculture sectors to the county, and how vital it is that the next generation have the best possible opportunity to obtain high level qualifications locally.”

Other sponsors include Agricultural Student or Rural Skills Award, Red Tractor Assurance.