THE inaugural Cumbria Farmer Awards will be judged by a panel of respected industry experts and specialists from a wide spectrum of backgrounds.

Headed by Andrew Robinson, partner and head of agriculture and farming at Carlisle-based business advisers and accountants Armstrong Watson, our headline sponsors, who are also sponsoring a further category, the Lifetime Achievement Award, as well as the drinks reception.

Andrew will be partnered in the search to find farming’s unsung heroes, by Alistair Mackintosh, west Cumbrian beef and sheep farmer and chairman of Red Tractor Assurance, as well as the National Farmers Union Cumbrian council delegate; Ian Bowness, Aspatria dairy farmer and NFU county chairman’; Agricultural Partner at David Allen Accountants in Dalston, Michael Peile; Julia Aglionby, Armathwaite farmer and Executive Director of the Foundation for Common Land; Lois Mansfield, Professor of Upland Landscapes, and Director of Ambleside Campus; Sharon Sloan, Lely Center Longtown general manager; Robert Craig, Nuffield Scholar and Armathwaite dairy farmer; Heather Pritchard, Sales and Marketing Manager at H&H, based in Carlisle and Adam Day, Managing Director of The Farmer Network, based in Penrith.

Our host for the evening is John Wharton, Cumbrian farmer and Livestock Manager and Auctioneer at Mitchell’s Auction Mart in Cockermouth and former Cumberland Show chairman for two years, who is sponsored by David Allen Accountants at Dalston.

Cumbria Farmer Awards 2021 were due to be celebrated early in the New Year. But the worsening situation around Covid-19 has forced us to postpone the Awards Night until May 14, 2021.

Entries for the 12 categories are now closed.

The winners will be announced at a glittering awards dinner at the Greenhill Hotel, Wigton on Friday, May 14, 2021 when entertainment will be provided by the popular Cumbrian band, the Soul Survivors.

Other category sponsors are Dalston accountants, David Allen, who is sponsoring the Young Farmers’ Club of the Year award, and supporting the host on the night. Contractor of the Year and Dairy Farmer of the Year are sponsored by Carlisle-based Carrs Billington. The Farming Champion category is sponsored by the National Farmers Union (NFU). The Land and Environmental Award is sponsored by the University of Cumbria. The Against All Odds category sponsored by Lely Center of Longtown.Livestock Farmer of the Year, Carlisle-based H&H Group; Agricultural Student or Rural Skills Award, Red Tractor Assurance; Tenant Farmer of the Year, National Trust Cumbria.