Herefordshire farms nominated Farmers Weekly awards

The Farmers Weekly magazine has been hosting its annual awards over four night this week, dubbing them as a "week-long festival of British farming" to celebrate farming’s successes.

Hosted by BBC Countryfile host Adam Henson, appearances were also lined up from The Prince of Wales, Environment Secretary George Eustice, and National Farmers' Union president Minette Batters.

The four nominees showcase some of the best of Herefordshire farming, something the Hereford Times has been promoting with its #BackingHerefordshireFarming campaign.

In the first awards show on Sunday, How Caple farmer Emily Jones narrowly missed out on claiming the agriculture student of the year crown.

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Announcing the nomination, Adam Henson said: "An infectious enthusiasm for the industry shines through in everything this Harper Adams graduate does.

"Emily wants to learn and lead and achieve, and her agri business course inspired her mission to help improve farm safety."

Miss Jones lost out to Grace Welling from Hampshire.

Mr Henson said Miss Welling, also a Harper Adams graduate, did not grow up on a farm, but she still pursued a career in farming.

On Monday, Herefordshire Anthony and Christine Snell of British Frozen Fruits in Harewood End were up for the diversification award.

Christine and Anthony Snell from Harewood End, near Hereford

Mr Henson said the couple turned land making "marginal profits from conventional farming into a market-leading fresh and frozen fruit business" with innovation. But the couple missed out on the award, beaten by Alice Maltby, Tom Wilson and Henry Wilson from East Yorkshire.

Mr Henson said the trio had set up a vineyard and wedding business in the Yorkshire hills, with "hard work at the heart of everything".

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On Wednesday, H&E Rudge, as well as and Tom and Julie Davies, will find out the outcome of the mixed farmer of the year award they have both shortlisted for.

Esther Rudge runs Ballingham Court, near Ross-on-Wye, as a family partnership with her husband Henry and their son Monty, who has recently joined the business after studying at agricultural university Harper Adams.

Mrs Rudge is the fourth generation of her family to farm the 450-acre site after she took over aged 16. Along with her family, she has now been nominated for the Family Run Farm of the Year award.

From apple orchards and an anaerobic digester, to ewes and 120 acres of arable crops, the family has a range of interests.

H&E Rudge is up against The Davies family from Upper Court Farm, Clifford.

Tom and Julie Davies launched UC Feeds three years ago as an alternative to selling grain off the farm when prices were low.

The two Herefordshire farms which made the shortlist were also nominated for the Three Counties Farming Awards, run by the Hereford Times, last year.

In the last broadcast of the Farmers Weekly awards on Thursday, H&E Rudge will also find out how they got in the environmental champion category.

• The Hereford Times Food and Farming Awards 2021 are launched on Thursday, February 25. They will be showcasing the very best of our magnificent food and agriculture industries in Herefordshire and the Welsh Borders.​ Find out more here.