Q&A With Our Devon Farm Business Awards 2022 Sponsors
We’ve gave our Devon 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.
Nominate yourself or someone you know for the Devon Farm Business Awards, here.
Peter Beaumont, Managing Director of Cornish Mutual: Principal Sponsor and ‘Best Sustainable Farming Initiative’ Category Sponsor.
Peter Beaumont, Cornish Mutual at the Celebrating 20 years of the Addington Fund event last summer, 2021.
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 has been a long-term supporter of the Addington Fund and we believe the work it does is very important. Like anybody, farmers and farm workers can find themselves in difficult financial situations for numerous reasons. The threat of homelessness is hugely traumatic for anyone, but particularly so if they have specific housing needs or a strong desire to stay in a rural location, where prices are often prohibitively high. The Addington Fund helps many individuals, couples and families who find themselves in difficult situations with short or longer-term affordable living accommodation, and makes such a difference to their lives. “
Q) What are you looking forward to the most this year at the Devon Farm Business Awards and why is it important to support this event?
A) “The Awards are always a fantastic occasion - a celebration of farming success and a highlight of the year. Perhaps even more so in 2022, after the Covid-related disruption of the past two years. This year, we are particularly excited about the new category which we recently launched - the Best Sustainable Farming Initiative Award will showcase the amazing work farmers are doing to improve the long-term sustainability of their businesses. We hope that this award will reveal how the most successful farmers are coping with climate change, boosting biodiversity and building business resilience, and that this will inspire more to follow suit. Building resilience is what Cornish Mutual is all about, so it’s particularly pertinent 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) “Started by farmers in 1903, Cornish Mutual’s ‘reason to be’ 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 risk and build resilience. In 2021, we launched our Future Farming programme to raise awareness and share experiences among our community, empowering our Members with knowledge and ideas to take their businesses forward. Farmers are used to dealing with challenges, but those faced by the industry at the moment are extraordinary. Results from our ‘Changing Farming Landscape Survey’ highlight how farmers are facing difficulties like the uncertainty of changes to farm support, as well as climate change and pressures 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. The work of farming charities like the Addington Fund is also more important than ever, and we are committed to promoting and supporting their work at every opportunity.”
Adam Waddle, Director of PKF Francis Clark: ‘Best Commercial Farmer’ Category Sponsor.
Q) What are you looking forward to the most this year at the Devon Farm Business Awards and why is it important to support this event?
A) “This year, we are most looking forward to meeting all of the nominees and hearing their stories. Everyone is different but I find that the relationship between farming & families tends to be familiar for everyone and this is something we are able to support through the Addington Fund. “
Q) What does it mean to you to be a sponsor for the awards and why did you choose the Addington Fund?
A) “It means a great deal to be sponsoring the awards again. At PKF Francis Clark, we believe passionately that UK farming has a great future and we are proud to play our part. The Addington Fund is an amazing, important charity supporting the farming community and we love being a part of their events.”
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) “Farming can be an isolated place for some and so I think just being there for someone to talk to is really important. Offering to talk with local groups are a good way of getting to know the community and letting people know you are there to support.”
Kate Theophilus, Partner of Stephens Scown Solicitors: ‘Best Woman in Agriculture’ 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) “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 Devon, 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.”
Nicola Janus-Harris, Senior Associate of Trowers & Hamlins LLP: ‘Farm Diversification Award’ Category Sponsor.
Q) What are you looking forward to the most this year at the Devon Farm Business Awards and why is it important to support this event?
A) “It is still a novelty to be back out in the world and it feels particularly exciting this year to be bringing the best of the farming community back in to a room together, and celebrating their achievements despite a hugely challenging few years. More than ever, as we progress through an uncertain transition period for agricultural policy, it is crucial to recognise the importance of this sector and to support those working in agriculture. “
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) “I have grown up in rural Devon and had the fortune to pursue my career here, so it was a natural progression for me to move from working in the property sector to developing a specialism in agricultural law. It has become increasingly hard for farming businesses to be competitive and many have had to diversify their farming enterprise in order to be resilient to the changing market and policy structure. With threats from external markets it is more important than ever for charities to support UK agriculture and the people working so hard to ensure that their business is successful.”
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 real positive of social media is that news and events can be shared on a large scale at little or no cost. The agricultural market generally has been slower to share their success and promote their excellence, and I think it is crucial to promote UK agriculture to a wide audience and celebrate our animal and food standards as a differentiator, and to publicise the key role the sector will play in the drive to net zero. “
Peter Brown, Director of Thomas Westcott: ‘Best Farm Processor’ 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) “We’ve known about the Addington Fund and the Devon Farm Business Awards for a while now and we have always wanted to get involved with the awards. Luckily for us a category became available and we jumped at the chance to sponsor and be a part of this prestigious event. It’s so important to support the Addington Fund because they are such a fantastic charity helping the farming community in a niche way.”
Q) What are you looking forward to the most this year at the Devon Farm Business Awards and why is it important to support this event?
A) “We haven’t been to any of the farm business awards yet so I’m simply looking forward to enjoying the evening, meeting new people and of course finding out who’s this years Devon’s Farmer of the Year.”
Q) What does it mean to you to be a sponsor for the awards and why did you choose the Addington Fund?
A) “We are always willing to help the farming community in any way we can so sponsoring the awards and the Addington Fund is the perfect way to show our support, knowing the money raised through the awards go direct for those in the agricultural industry who need our help.”
Phil Cork, Head of Milk Supply form Crediton Dairy: ‘Best Dairy Farmer’ Category Sponsor
Q) What does it mean to you to be a sponsor for the awards and why did you choose the Addington Fund?
A) “It means a lot to us to sponsor the Devon Farm Business Awards because as we are located in Crediton, the heart of Devon, supporting the locals is exactly what we want to do within our business and throughout the awards too. We chose the Addington Fund because we truly believe in their values and remits of help.'“
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 are great fun. Everyone is in high spirits so it’s always nice catch up and see everyone together. The dinner is always delicious and seeing people within the industry being recognised for their hard work and determination sets the tone for the following days at the show. I’d highly recommend people to get involved, whether that be sponsorship or buying tickets for the event, it really is worth it, especially as you’re supporting the Addington Fund too!”
Q) What are you looking forward to the most this year at the Devon Farm Business Awards and why is it important to support this event?
A) "The thing I’m looking forward to the most this year is simply getting everyone back together. It’s been a long time since we had our proper Devon Farm Business Awards. It’s important to support this event because what’s more important than supporting local?”
Penny Dart, Director of Savills: ‘Best Young Farmer’ 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) “We've been involved with the Addington Fund approximately 20 years at The Royal Cornwall and Devon County Shows. The Addington Fund are an excellent cause supporting those in need in the rural community.”
Q) What are you looking forward to the most this year at the Devon Farm Business Awards and why is it important to support this event?
A) “The awards are always great fun to attend. The evening runs well and it's so nice to see everyone and gather together the night before the Devon County Show, the awards brings a lot of energy and high spirits and there's always plenty of comradery.”
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 Devon Farm Business Awards are a fantastic opportunity to be part of to celebrate the best of Devon agriculture, while supporting a great charity too.”
Andrew Butler, Devon County Advisor of the NFU: ‘Farming Champion’ Category Sponsor.
Q) What are you looking forward to the most this year at the Devon Farm Business Awards and why is it important to support this event?
A) “The awards are always a great opportunity to celebrate some of the amazing farm businesses we have across the county. When you are busy or just going through normal routines you can forget how lucky we are to live and work in this area, as well as the breadth of knowledge and skills that exist in the county. The Awards are an opportunity to just remind ourselves of some of these amazing businesses and celebrate their success. It will also hopefully inspire others to push forwards with their businesses and maybe feature at the awards in the future! “
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) “I grew up in and around agriculture, before studying agriculture and working in the sector ever since. Over that time the amount of labour on farm has continues to decrease, with the amount of different tasks that an individual farm business needs to complete going up! With most farm businesses in Devon being family based, this ultimately puts pressure on the family and sadly from time to time this pressure becomes too much. So the farming charities perform a key role in supporting those that need it, so it is vital that everyone in the sector does their bit to support charities like Addington, so they can be there at times of need. “
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 all always perfectly organised and well run and given those from across the sector the ability to come together and celebrate everything that is great with Devon farming. Additionally by being held the night before the start of the County Show, they are a great way to kick off the show and everything that delivers for the farming and wider community.”
Jack Cordery, Chief Executive for Mole Valley Farmers: ‘Devon’s Farmer of the Year’ 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) “Mole Valley Farmers have been involved with the Addington Fund for several years through support of the Devon Farm Business Awards and we became an official partner/sponsor of the Addington Fund in October 2020. The Addington Fund is a vital charity to farming communities and we are pleased to support the charity as part of our overall commitment to UK agriculture.”
Q) What are you looking forward to the most this year at the Devon Farm Business Awards and why is it important to support this event?
A) “We are looking forward to a celebration of all the is good about Devon farming. It is important for Mole Valley Farmers as a business which has its roots in Devon to support this event and the county’s farmers.”
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) “Mole Valley Farmers was founded by a small group of farmers in Devon who created a buying group. Whilst the business has grown and agriculture has changed over the decades, we have not lost sight of our founding values and we exist to for the good of our Farmer Shareholders and wider customer base to help optimise profitability, productivity and sustainability.”
Want to nomination someone for this year’s Devon Farm Business Awards? Click here for all the categories and nomination forms.