Judging under way for Regional Farm Award
Run by the Suffolk Agricultural Association in partnership with Ashton Graham KCJ Solicitors, the BALE Award annually seeks to find the region’s best farming diversification business from across Suffolk, Norfolk, Essex and Cambridgeshire.
This year’s contest sees a significant change to mark its 20th Anniversary. Rather than an open competition, the Champion of Champions concept was created to find the shining star among all the winners of the last decade.
Over two intense days earlier this month, the Rt Hon. Lord Deben, Jonathan Long, Agricultural Partner, Ashton KCJ and Margaret Holland, the first ever winner of the BALE competition, visited farm diversification businesses throughout the four counties and must now choose their winner.
The winner of the award is to be announced at a presentation lunch at Trinity Park in January, alongside a special accolade to mark Best Green Practice.
Christopher Bushby, executive director of Suffolk Agricultural Association, said: “The BALE award has always attracted an exceptionally high calibre of agricultural businesses and we are delighted to be revisiting so many of them as part of this year’s Champion of Champions approach.
“Our judges certainly have a tough job to do this year, because the very nature of the competition is that all entrants are deserving winners for the diversification business they have undertaken in recent years.
“I am really looking forward to not only seeing who is the final winner, but also to hearing just how well these businesses have progressed and further developed during the last decade.”
The winner of the Champions accolade will take the Ashton Graham Challenge Cup, Tankard and £1000 to be spent on their business. Best Green Practice winner will receive £100.
Each contender is to be judged on how their business has continued to develop, what further plans they have for the future, and how the business has contributed to the local economy.
Those in the final shortlist include Castle Farm of Norfolk, the Suffolk Food Hall, Park Farm Business Centre in Bury St Edmunds, Hollow Trees Farm Shop in Ipswich, Manor House Estate in Bawdsey, Valley Farm Equestrian in Wickham Market, Resting Pets Cemetery in Ongar, Bruisyard Hall in Dennington and The Reid Rooms in Dunmow.