Auction names its annual Farmer of the Year

The annual awards scheme recognises the contribution of regular vendors at Skipton Auction Mart and honours a champion among them.

Points are awarded for both prizewinners at livestock shows and highest priced stock in several categories at the weekly sales throughout the year.

Mr Lund, who also won the individual prime cattle awards category, has this year presented multiple champions and prizewinners at the North Yorkshire venue, where he sells the vast majority of his livestock.

In 2012, he sold a total of 357 head of sheep, predominantly Mule and Texel-cross prime lambs, and 57 prime cattle, primarily British Blue, Limousin and Parthenais.

Three generations of the Lund family have farmed at Walshaw Farm, which stands on the Savile Estate.

Mr Lund’s father, James, established the business in 1962, with Mr Lund taking over in his own right following his father’s retirement in 2001.

His wife Linda and now his son, Richard, are also fully involved in the business.

Mr Lund received his awards from Craven Cattle Marts’ chairman Anthony Hewetson, of Bank Newton.

The store and breeding cattle award went to the Walker farming family from Brennand Farm, Dunsop Bridge, with the store and breeding sheep title falling to Ashley and Rachael Caton, of Otterburn Lodge, Otterburn.

Robert Towers, of Camp House Farm, Farleton, Lancaster, came out on top when he won the prime sheep category, with dairy and calf section honours falling to brothers Shaun and Peter Sowray, of Bowes Green Farm, Bishop Thornton.