Mart's The Heart Categories

Entries to the Mart's The Heart Awards 2024 open on the 10th May 2024.

New Auctioneer of the Year

 This award aims to identify and reward trainee and newly qualified auctioneers (within five years of qualifying), based on their skills, attitude and contribution to the agricultural community.

New Auctioneer of the Year entries can be put forward by marts, farmers, colleagues and the auctioneers themselves. The final winner will be selected by a combination of public votes, the strength of nominations and personal summary and by the opinion of the panel of judges.

This category is now closed

Auction Mart of the Year

This award aims to identify and acknowledge the driven and progressive auction houses who serve their farming communities by generally stepping up the plate, demonstration of keeping their marts alive with new initiatives, fresh, revamped sales and how they use various platforms and technology to keep people linked to sales.

Nominations can come from anyone. A judging panel will select four finalists, and Farmers Guardian readers will be asked to vote (in paper and online) for their favourite, based on a summary about each of them.

The final winner will be selected by a combination of public votes, the strength of nominations, overall personal summary and by opinion of the panel of judges.

This category is now closed

Auction Café of the Year

We are looking for the UK’s premier auction café – the centre of mart life. It doesn’t matter whether it is small or large, we are looking for a café which is a central hub for the market and produces great quality food, using British products, at a reasonable price.

Whether it’s a top cuppa or a great lunch, we are seeking nominations to identify and reward the UK’s best mart café. Auction Café of the Year entries can be put forward by marts themselves, farmers, or café staff themselves. The final winner will be selected by a combination of public votes and the feedback from last year's winner.

This category is now closed

Brought to you by

Shearwell Data

“Shearwell Data is delighted to be continuing its support of the Mart’s the Heart Awards. Livestock markets are an integral part of the livestock farming community. Not only are livestock markets a place of business, but also a space where farmers can seek advice and see friends, albeit at a distance at the moment. Livestock markets and the live sale rings are key to a buoyant and competitive livestock farming sector and the future of the UK red meat sector.”

RICHARD WEBBER Director, Shearwell Data.

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Livestock Auctioneer Association

“The Livestock Auctioneers’ Association is delighted to sponsor the awards, which acknowledge the role auctioneers and their businesses play in the livestock industry and the wider agricultural and rural community, a key part of which is ensuring farmers get a fair and true price for their stock. This is a great opportunity to recognise the role auctions play within the industry..”


CHRIS DODDS Executive secretary,

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