2017 Awards
The winners of the 2017 British Farming Awards were revealed at a fantastic awards ceremony, held at the National Conference Centre, Birmingham, and supported by Morrisons, on Thursday 19th October 2017.
More than 700 farmers and industry professionals attended the event, which showcased the innovation and achievements of farmers across the agricultural industry.
2017 Winners
Agricultural Student of the Year:
Benjamin Theaker, Nottingham Trent University
Arable Innovator of the Year:
Andrew Francis, Elveden Farms, Norfolk
Beef Innovator of the Year:
Bryan Wilson, Glenarm Castle Estate, Co Antrim
Contractor Innovator of the Year:
Graeme Parker, Graeme Parker Hoof Trimming, Dumfries and Galloway
Dairy Innovator of the Year:
Joe and Ed Towers, Lune Valley Dairy, Brades Farm, Lancashire
Digital Innovator of the Year:
Will Evans, Rock and Roll Farming, Lower Eyton Farm, North Wales
Diversification Innovator of the Year – Small to Medium:
Sam Moorhouse, Hesper Farm Skyr, Hesper Farm, North Yorkshire
Diversification Innovator of the Year – Large:
Adam and Lisa-Jane Fraser, Coldharbour Farm, Frasers, Kent
Family Farming Business of the Year:
The Fairburn family, L J Fairburn & Son, Ivy House Farm, Lincolnshire
Farmers Guardian Farming Hero of the Year:
Scottish Association of Young Farmers’ Clubs, ‘Are Ewe Okay?’ campaign
Machinery Innovator of the Year:
Frank Morphet, Swing Over Feed Cover, Swarthmoor Hall Farm, Cumbria
New Entrant Awards: Against the odds:
Matthew Jackson, Penllech Bach, Gwynedd
Outstanding Contribution to British Agriculture:
Caroline Drummond, MBE
Sheep Innovator of the Year:
Dan Pritchard, Gower Salt Marsh Lamb, Weobley Castle Farm, South Wales
2017 Video
Venue

The 2017 British Farming Awards was held in the Imperial Suite at The National Conference Centre, Birmingham. The NCC has gained an exceptional reputation across the industry, accommodating over 200,000 guests each year.
Guest Speaker
We were delighted that Impressionist Rory Bremner was the guest speaker at the 2017 British Farming Awards.
Profile:
Rory Bremner is Britain’s best-loved impressionist. With a repertoire of over one hundred characters, he impersonates everyone from film stars to chatshow hosts, sportsmen to newsreaders and politicians to fellow comedians.
His series Rory Bremner…Who Else? and Bremner, Bird & Fortune, have been among the sharpest satire shows on television. Rory frequently appears in one-off topical specials including Between Iraq and a Hard Place, and Silly Money, a four part satirical documentary on the global banking crisis. He frequently appears on a range of both comic and serious programmes including Question Time, The One Show, QI, and This Week. He was a regular on BBC 2’s Mock the Week and partnered Erin on the Saturday night hit Strictly Come Dancing.
Rory has also hosted Breakfast with Frost, written diaries for the Daily Telegraph and The New Statesman, and translated a number of operas including Kurt Weill’s Der Silbersee for Broomhill Opera (he speaks fluent German, French and Spanish). He’s even achieved charttopping status with his single 19 Not Out (performed with the BBC cricket commentary team).
He has twice won the British Comedy Award for Top Male Performer as well as BAFTA’s Best Light Entertainment Award.
“I feel totally overwhelmed, it’s one of the highlights of my farming career. The food has been excellent tonight and that is what the industry is all about. The event has brought together the cream of agriculture and it’s a privilege to be a part of it.”
“I feel totally overwhelmed, it’s one of the highlights of my farming career. The food has been excellent tonight and that is what the industry is all about. The event has brought together the cream of agriculture and it’s a privilege to be a part of it.”