Award search for the best farm business entrepreneurs

Farming businesses in the East Riding that have recently established a new enterprise are being sought for a major award set up to recognise the best farm diversifications in the area.

The George F White Farm Diversification Award 2011 is set to be presented at The Driffield Show on July 22.

The award has been set up by consultants George F White and will involve a £500 prize and a trophy.

It is open to farmers who have diversified to establish a new enterprise which has been operating for less than five years.

Last year was the first year that the award was presented, with Paul and Anna Jackson from Carnaby House Farm at Bridlington being named winners.

The couple won the prize for their specialist oilseed rape pressing business, Gold from the Wold.

The oil is produced from oilseed rape grown on the farm. It is then cold pressed to produce 100 per cent extra virgin oil, something they claim has a superior taste and quality than the blended varieties usually found in supermarkets.

The award will be presented by Louis Fell and Tom Mason, partners with George F White and based in the firm’s recently opened Shiptonthorpe office which covers Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire.

Mr Fell, partner with George F White, said: “We are looking for farming businesses which have used their skill and innovation to develop a new product or service on their farms.

“Many farmers have found diversifying their business an extremely rewarding way of providing a stable income and improving profitability in a time of volatility in agricultural markets.

“Gold from the Wold was an excellent example of the type of enterprise we are looking for as it adds value to a crop already being grown on the farm and uses the location of the farm on the Yorkshire Wolds in the marketing by creating a great name for a quality product.”

David Tite, chief executive from Driffield Agricultural Society, said: “We are thrilled that George F White are sponsoring this award.

“It is an excellent way of recognising all the hard work, skill and innovation that goes into developing a new farm enterprise and we are pleased to be able to provide some support and encouragement for farmers seeking to develop their business and ensuring their profitability for the future.”

Preparations will now be well underway for this year’s Driffield Show, one of the biggest one-day events in the country.

As well as the usual cattle, sheep and pig classes, the event will feature its famed Enterprise Village, handicraft displays and a food hall.

For more information on how to enter the award visit www.driffieldshow.co.uk

CHAMPION LIMOUSINS

The celebrated Oddacres pedigree limousin herd of local breeders John and Claire Mason in Embsay was responsible for the title winner at the Lingfields Beef Cattle Fair, the annual multi-breeds show and sale of pedigree beef breeding cattle at Skipton Auction Mart.

The reserve championship fell to another limousin, first prize winner in the class for younger bulls, Prietec Freddie, from Terry and Elaine Priestley, who farm at Bentham.