Nominate yourself or someone you know in to the Devon FBA’s now

The Devon Farm Business Awards 2022 are returning to normal pre pandemic style on Wednesday 29th June 2022 at the Devon County Showground, Westpoint.

In a new year and with a fresh start the Addington Fund can’t wait to host the traditional Devon Farm Business Awards the night before the Devon County Show itself, with an eagerly anticipated 200 – 220 guests in attendance.

Organised by the Devon County Agricultural Association (DCAA) and the Addington Fund, the Devon Farm Business Awards are in their 9th consecutive year, continuing to encourage a passion for farming and awarding those who genuinely deserve recognition for their hard work and determination within the agricultural sector.

Bill Young, CEO of the Addington Fund, is delighted the Awards will be taking place properly again this year and reflects:

“The Devon Farm Business Awards event is one of the main highlights of the Addington year. We were devastated when the pandemic hit back in 2020 and the majority of our functions were cancelled, but we count ourselves lucky to have been able to host a smaller scale Devon Farm Business Awards celebration outside at the Devon County Show in 2021, thanks to the hard work and dedication of the team at Westpoint and the DCAA. We’re very excited to host the traditional Devon Farm Business Awards on the eve of the show this year, as they will not only celebrate the achievements of Devon’s finest agriculturalists but also the end of a very traumatic period of time for the entire nation.

It is great to see the award winners walking round the show the next day with a spring in their step from the night before. While we all witnessed the panic buying we also saw the shelves in the shops were still stacked with fresh produce during lockdown; we had food on our plates thanks to our farmers - the soldiers of the land - continuing the hard work they put into feeding the nation, despite the rest of the world shutting down. We must recognise them and reward their dedication to agriculture.

At the Addington Fund, we are not only here to support those who succeed in agriculture but those who need help either with housing, disaster relief, hardship or even to get into the industry itself, and as a truly sustainable charity we are in pole position to deliver. Supporting our charity via the Devon Farm Business Awards or simply donating to the Addington Fund allows us to continue helping our farmers when times hit hard; your support is invaluable.”

Peter Jinman, Chairman of the Addington Fund adds:

“Another year has passed in the busy annual cycle of farming. Plans drawn up in the warmth of the office have to find their way to fruition in the constantly varying practical farming space despite climate change and a backdrop of ever changing economic, regulatory and disease prevalence. These Awards act as a point of inspiration for all, hearing how plans become reality through hard work and occasionally, a little luck! Farming is a business but it is also a vocation, it demands 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year devotion to detail. Addington like other farming charities exists because of a need for help and support, and also for those who have done their time and seek retirement or for those who wish to enter the world of farming as new entrants. We are a farming charity supported by all who are engaged in farming, land management and the production of food. We are your charity and we celebrate with you all the best that farming can represent and fulfil.”

This year a brand-new category is being added to the mix; ‘Best Sustainable Farming Initiative’ which is kindly sponsored by Cornish Mutual, who are also for the first time this year’s Principal Sponsor for the Devon Farm Business Awards. The Best Sustainable Farming Initiative category is a great addition to the already existing farming categories, which allows the Awards to attract new nominees who work around the clock to maintain and improve the current economic expectations of climate change and sustainability within agriculture and the public sector.

Peter Beaumont, Managing Director of Cornish Mutual shares his views on this year’s awards, categories and their sponsorship:

Peter Beaumont Managing Director Cornish Mutual at the Devon Farm Business Awards 2021

“We are delighted to be Principal Sponsor of this renowned event, celebrating farmers from across the county. This year, we are also thrilled to have created a new landmark award, recognising farmers’ achievements as caretakers of the land. ‘Best Sustainable Farming Initiative’ applauds the significant progress being made in addressing many aspects of sustainability including environmental issues and business resilience. Building sustainability is good for everyone and creates a viable future for farming in Devon.”

This new award reflects Cornish Mutual’s Future Farming programme, in which they are standing alongside farmers, empowering them to explore solutions to the challenges they face. Cornish Mutual is proud to collaborate with the Addington Fund and, like them, remain committed to protecting the farming community.

We also owe a huge debt of gratitude to our other category sponsors for their continuous and loyal support, as without them our awards would simply not be the same.

The Devon Farm Business Awards category sponsors for 2022 are as follows:

Best Sustainable Farming Initiative (NEW) - Cornish Mutual

Best Commercial Farmer - PKF Francis Clark

Best Woman in Agriculture - Stephens Scown Solicitors LLP

Best Dairy Farmer – Crediton Dairy

Best Young Farmer - Savills

Farming Champion – NFU

Devon’s Farmer of the Year – Mole Valley, our official charity sponsor partner.

And we welcome aboard newcomer Trower & Hamlins LLP who are this year’s Farm Diversification Award sponsor and we welcome Thomas Westcott who are sponsoring our Best Farm Processor Award.

A special thanks goes to the staff at the Devon County Showground, Westpoint Exeter for their hard work, determination and annual contribution to the Devon Farm Business Awards.

Nominations for the Devon Farm Business Awards are open now via the NEW Farm Business Awards website. Click here for the nominations forms, for more information about the awards and for our other sponsorship opportunities.

Thank you for supporting the Addington Fund.