Mart's The Heart Awards 2024

CARMARTHEN

Carmarthen Mart had a difficult few years preceding its closure in 2020, leading to the owners, Carmarthen County Council, to advertise a public tendering process. Nock Deighton Agricultural proved successful and reopened the mart in March 2022. It now sells 1,000 sheep, 100 dairy cattle, 250 calves, 250 store cattle and 70 barren cows weekly, as well as 300 weanlings and 80 bovine TB-restricted store cattle monthly, plus machinery. There is still room for improvement at Carmarthen, but it shows what a dedicated and hardworking team can achieve

HEXHAM AND NORTHERN

HEXHAM and Northern Marts are honoured and delighted to be recognised and nominated for this award. The company is renowned for having a warm welcome, customer service, integrity and ambition as its core values. Perfectly situated near the A69 and A68 to serve the agricultural community of the North of England and the Scottish Borders, the centre provides great business opportunities and regularly holds social events for the wider community.

MARKET DRAYTON

MARKET Drayton is honoured to be shortlisted for this award. Our sincere thanks go to all our clients who use the market and have contributed to its success. It is the team ethos from director through to drover who all display that ‘can do’ approach and are passionate about making the market thrive. Our aim is to enhance our client’s livestock marketing experience by bringing together the rural community and offering a facility where service and trade matter. Coupled with ever-changing technology, we try and keep our buyers and sellers informed on a daily and weekly basis.

SKIPTON

Skipton Auction Mart, owned and operated by CCM Auctions, serves the needs of customers both local and countrywide, with a full range of large prime, store, breeding, pedigree, sheepdog and machinery sales. Sales are two days per week year-round, rising to four to six days at busy times. The compact team of auctioneers, office and yard staff strive to offer the best possible service they can to all clients at every stage of the marketing experience, welcoming customers to our modern and easily accessible mart on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales.

CLITHEROE CAFE

WE are over the moon to be nominated for Cafe of the Year. In May 2021, we were invited to re-open and provide the catering facilities here at Clitheroe Auction Mart. The menu has seasonal daily specials and caters for all tastes, from a bacon sandwich to a full carvery for any occasion. We serve coffee and a delicious selection of cakes and pastries made by our own on-site pastry chef. We use only fresh local produce and we are very proud of the team, who have helped create a welcoming and friendly environment for diners

DOT’S CAFE, DARLINGTON

DARLINGTON DOT’S Cafe is led by Dorothy Macdonald, a farmer’s daughter whose heritage spans six generations. Dorothy’s upbringing instilled a profound respect for farming and the environment. She supports this by sourcing local ingredients, turning them into hearty meals and homemade desserts. Dorothy champions British farming, promoting its importance with passion and education. Dot’s Cafe serves as a welcoming community hub where people gather for good food and conversation. Dorothy and her team ensure exceptional service, going the extra mile to make everyone feel at home.

THE MARKET CAFE, HEREFORD

HEREFORD THE Market Cafe has been run by Jenifer Gore and family for the last 15 years. With all food made to order, the team provide a heartwarming service to all customers from near and far. Their focus is on using local ingredients and creating good, wholesome food, but listening and caring is just as important. The cafe also champions and donates to many charities, and support visits from the NHS Health check team and local health counsellors who provide invaluable support for all.

THE ROSTRUM CAFE, SELBY

JUSTINE Bloom took over the running of the cafe over five years ago along with a small team of ladies, who meet you with a warm and cheeky welcome. They serve good, old-fashioned, hearty, locally sourced, quality food – from a bacon butty, to a traditional full English breakfast, to the highly acclaimed roast dinners, where all meat is supplied by regular wholesale buyers at the mart. All cakes are homemade by Justine, who also offers outside catering and private functions.

JOE BOWMAN (Harrison and Hetherington)

JOE Bowman grew up on a farm near Carlisle, where early exposure to the agricultural lifestyle laid a strong foundation for his future career. In 2015, he joined Harrison and Hetherington and began his auctioneering journey by selling poultry and small machinery. Joe takes pride in working for both sellers and buyers, treating every client with the same level of respect and commitment whether they have one sheep or a thousand. He firmly believes in seller equality, ensuring that every sale is conducted fairly and transparently

MEGAN DOWSON (Darlington Farmers Auction)

GROWING up around farms in the local area, Megan knew the importance of auctions. Since joining Darlington in 2022, she has learnt the trade from the bottom up, and recently established a calf sale. She has enjoyed both the time in the rostrum and on-farm building relationships with farmers. Her aim as an auctioneer is to forge, encourage and build on trusting relationships, being a constant in the customer’s life when everything else in the industry can be volatile.

GEORGE STARKIE (Clitheroe Auction)

ALTHOUGH not originally from a farming background, George always dreamed of having a career in agriculture. He first started working at Clitheroe as a clerk, then as a drover, eventually moving on to auctioneering – all while studying a degree in agriculture at Myerscough College. Although he loves the auctioneering side of the role, George says he also enjoys meeting new people and building long-lasting relationships with customers, which is key for an auction mart to thrive.

BEN WILSON (Thirsk Farmers Auction)

NOW 18, Ben first started selling cast sheep on joining Thirsk at 16, and now sells all the store and breeding sheep, taking over the pig section last November and selling a few cattle. Coming from a family farm, he appreciates the role auction marts play in the agricultural industry, not just for business but for friendships and socialising. He says that since he first picked up a gavel and has been able to do what he loves from such a young age, he has been living the dream