Q&A’s from our Cornwall Farm Business Awards sponsors
We’ve gave our Cornwall Farm Business Awards sponsors a few questions to answer… Here is what they have to say about us, the awards and helping the farming community by supporting us and our sponsorship opportunities.
Peter Beaumont, Managing Director of Cornish Mutual: Principal Sponsor and ‘Best Sustainable Farming Initiative’ category sponsor.
Q) How long have you been involved with the Addington Fund and why do you feel it is important to support our charity?
A) Cornish Mutual is a long-term supporter of the Addington Fund, and the vital work that it carries out in Cornwall. Like anybody, farmers and farm workers can find themselves in difficult financial situations for numerous reasons. The threat of homelessness is always traumatic, but particularly if the individual has specific housing needs or a strong desire to stay in a rural location. Coupled with house prices in Cornwall continuing to reach record levels, the challenge becomes even greater. The Addington Fund makes such a positive difference to the lives of many individuals, couples and families who find themselves in difficult situations by providing them with short or longer-term affordable accommodation.
Q) What are you looking forward to the most this year at the Cornwall Farm Business Awards and why is it important to support this event?
A) The Cornwall Farm Business Awards are always a great occasion - a celebration of the county’s farming successes and a highlight of the agricultural year. Perhaps even more so this year, after the previous covid-related disruption. This year, we are particularly excited about the recently launched “Best Sustainable Farming Initiative” award. The category will showcase the amazing work that Cornish farmers are doing to improve the long-term sustainability of their businesses. We hope that this award will highlight how farmers are coping with climate change, developing business resilience and boosting biodiversity, inspiring more farmers to follow suit. Building resilience is central to what Cornish Mutual does, so it’s particularly exciting for us to support this category.
Q) How did you become involved with agriculture and how has it changed throughout the years? Does this highlight the support farming charities need now more than ever?
A) Founded by farmers in 1903, Cornish Mutual’s purpose ever since has been to support farmers and rural businesses across the South West. As well as providing insurance products to protect assets, we also actively help our Members reduce their risks and build business resilience. In 2021, we launched our Future Farming programme to raise awareness and share experiences among our community, empowering our Members with ideas and knowledge to drive their businesses forward. Farmers are used to challenges, but those currently faced by the industry are extraordinary. Results from our recent ‘Changing Farming Landscape Survey’ highlight how farmers are facing numerous difficulties including the uncertainty around changes to farm support, as well as climate change and pressure to continuously improve biodiversity and sustainability. As a result, we are adapting our offering to best support our Members in getting to grips with these challenges. Farming charities like the Addington Fund are also more important than ever, and we are committed to promoting and supporting their work at every opportunity.
Brian Harvey, Partner at PKF Francis Clark sponsoring ‘Best Mixed Farmer 2022’
Q) How long have you been involved with the Addington Fund and why do you feel it is important to support our charity?
A) We have been involved with the Addington fund since the second year of the Cornwall Farm Business Awards and from the inception of the Devon Farm Business Awards. Addington is one of a group of very important charities that provides essential support to the agricultural sector which is a sector that is important to us. The work done by the Addington on providing housing to those in need from the industry is essential.
Q) What are you looking forward to the most this year at the Cornwall Farm Business Awards and why is it important to support this event?
A) I am looking forward to both judging some worthy nominees in our category, being able to showcase what is great about the Cornish farming sector and the great sense of camaraderie in the room on the night of the awards. Given the hard times and continued uncertainty in the industry this promises to be a great event that will give everyone a lift.
Q) How did you become involved with agriculture and how has it changed throughout the years? Does this highlight the support farming charities need now more than ever?
A) Like many I was born into a farming a family and I think it is in the blood. Agriculture has changed greatly over the years and this change is never more apparent than what we are seeing now. With change there is both challenge and opportunity. However, it is these challenges that will mean that farmers and farmers charities are likely to need support now more than ever.
Steve Harris, Agricultural Manager at Saputo Dairy & Sophie James from Davidstow Creamery Direct sponsoring ‘Best Dairy Farmer 2022’
Q) How long have you been involved with the Addington Fund and why do you feel it is important to support our charity?
A) We were initially involved as Dairy Crest for many years and Saputo has continued to provide its support. It is important to support the charity as it provides key community support in Cornwall. It also acts as a safety net for the farming community, whilst at the same time enabling opportunities for well being and promoting the positive impact and great work that farmers and those in the community do at farm level and in the production of healthy food from well cared for animals and crops. This year we are pleased to be able to team up with Davidstow Creamery Direct, our farmer representative body, to support the charity.
Q) What are you looking forward to the most this year at the Cornwall Farm Business Awards and why is it important to support this event?
A) The ability to re-engage with the Addington programme, promote our farmers into the awards for the excellent work they do every day. The awards evening itself is an excellent social event that celebrates the very best that Cornwall’s farmers and communities have to offer along with the recognition that provides for those that are nominated and but also eventually win and the pride that such a win brings with it. We very much care about our farmers and Cornwall, and in supporting the event we can demonstrate that through the supporting the great work Addington do.
Q) If someone doesn’t have a sponsorship budget to support a larger event, what would you suggest they can do to support the farming community in general?
A) May be provide some volunteer time for Addington at their events, or simply promote what Addington can do and provides within your business and those you deal with. Perhaps provide a volunteer day to a farming community project close to you.
Mike Pennington, Director of Savills sponsoring ‘Best Farm Processor 2022’
Q) What are you looking forward to the most this year at the Cornwall Farm Business Awards and why is it important to support this event?
A) We are looking forward to reconnecting with the county’s progressive and forward thinking farmers and fellow rural professionals. Now, more than ever it is important that we have platforms on which to discuss the exciting developments in the agricultural sector.
Q) How did you become involved with agriculture and how has it changed throughout the years? Does this highlight the support farming charities need now more than ever?
A) Growing up on a family farm in Cornwall I have seen first hand the changes experienced by the agricultural sector over the past decades, largely through technology, innovation and government legislation. Charities are so important – the farming community needs to feel supported and have the opportunity to share experiences and ideas.
Q) What does it mean to you to be a sponsor for the awards and why did you choose the Addington Fund
A) Savills are absolutely delighted to be involved in these awards, celebrating the best of Cornish.
Phil Reed, Partner at Stephens Scown Solictors LLP sponsoring Cornwall’s Farmer of the Year 2022
Q) How long have you been involved with the Addington Fund and why do you feel it is important to support our charity?
A) Stephens Scown has been working with Addington Fund for many years, too many for us to remember! From supporting the Cornwall Farm Business Awards to being one of the three founding members of the Devon Farm Business Awards when they were launched in 2014. The Addington Fund provides essential, specialist support to the farming community when they need it most, and this is something all at Stephens Scown want to ensure continues.
Q) How would you describe the Devon Farm Business Awards to someone who was looking to come on board and support the event?
A) The Awards night is a celebration of farming in Cornwall, a chance to come together and hear inspirational achievements from across the region. Along with the chance to enjoy delicious food in the company of great people, there is also the fun and thrill of a live auction, which raises vital funds to enable the Addington Fund to continue its vital support for farmers young and old.
Q) If someone doesn’t have a sponsorship budget to support a larger event, what would you suggest they can do to support the farming community in general?
A) Champion UK farmers by buying local - for your own shopping and by voting with your feet when visiting restaurants who source their produce locally. You can also help by supporting and engaging with campaigns that have UK farming at the heart of them.
Gill Vokes, Manager, Accounts & Business Advisory Services at Azets sponsor of the Best Woman in Agriculture Category
Gill Vokes, Azets
Q) How long have you been involved with the Addington Fund and why do you feel it is important to support our charity?
A) 2022 will be Azets first year of sponsoring a category at the Cornwall Farm Business Awards and we are very much looking forward to this special awards evening. We have for many years been aware of the work done by the Addington Fund to help farming and rural families when disaster or hardship happens, from the early days at the time of the foot and mouth outbreak in 2001 to the present day, when rising costs are impacting heavily on farming finances.
Q) What are you looking forward to the most this year at the Cornwall Farm Business Awards and why is it important to support this event?
A) Azets in Cornwall have always been keen supporters of the farmers and rural businesses in our local economy, and we are particularly looking forward to meeting the Cornish nominees. Cornish farmers and processors produce some of the best quality produce in the country. We appreciate that the industry often faces adversity not of its own creating and it will be a privilege to in a small way to be involved in efforts to raise funds and awareness of a charity that supports farmers and for many years has had a significant presence in our County.
Q) If someone doesn’t have a sponsorship budget to support a larger event, what would you suggest they can do to support the farming community in general?
A) The Addington Fund cannot function without funds and fund raisers, and one of the most important roles for all of us working within the rural sector should be to promote this and other charities supporting the rural community. There are many ways that someone can do this, one of the most important is to simply be aware of the function of these, to be well informed and point those who need support in the right direction.
Think you’ve got what it takes to be this year’s Cornwall’s Farmer of the Year? Enter today and see if you win! Click here to enter