Winners revealed at inspiring 2024 Northern Farmer Awards

Awards were presented in ten categories at Pavilions of Harrogate, before the overall Northern Farmer of the Year was announced as Simon Stott, of Laund Farm, near Preston, in Lancashire, who had earlier picked up the Sheep Farmer of the Year accolade.

His 500-acre farm in the Forest of Bowland supports 500 dairy ewes, 1,000 Swaledale and Blue Faced Leicester ewes, and 40 head of suckler cows. Six days a week Simon milks 400 Friesland ewes and has spent the past 11 years building a sheep milk enterprise.

Having set up his own farmer co-operative, this now sells more than 600,000 litres of sheep milk a year from seven neighbouring sheep farms on contracts to 12 dairies across the north of England.

Simon, who collected his earlier trophy alongside father John and son William, said receiving the overall award was "unbelievable".

The top prize was presented by Sam Holdstock, on behalf of principal awards sponsor Mole Country Stores, who said: "The judging panel felt this year's recipient had it all. Commitment to the community, an environmental sense of purpose and a true sense of commerciality."

Sam, who said Mole Country Stores is "delighted to celebrate a ten-year relationship with the awards," told the audience: "During those ten years we've seen some significant impacts on our businesses that have created change and challenge. There's been a new word added to our vocabulary – Brexit. Five Prime Ministers, seven Chancellors and nine Defra secretaries of state, a pandemic, global instability, full scale conflict in Europe and beyond, and now a return of bona fide pirates, all of which has had far-reaching consequences on farm funding, farm input costs, impacted supply chains, and how we manage the land.

"But being here, listening to such amazing accounts, only seeks to remind us that you indeed are masters of navigating such issues. Your dedication and resilience is perfectly showcased this evening. I certainly hope and wish that the year ahead holds fairer treatment and kinder trading conditions, and that both government and consumers demonstrate a greater appreciation of what you do, and a greater celebration of the outstanding food products and care you give to the land you steward."

The awards were hosted by award-winning broadcaster Christine Talbot, and also heard from Charles Mills, who steps down this year as director of the Great Yorkshire Show. He was thanked by Northern Farmer editor Hannah Chapman for his many years of support for the awards.

Before presenting the Family Run Farm of the Year award on behalf of the Yorkshire Agricultural Society, Charles said: "What a wonderful, wonderful competition this is." And he told the audience: "My other main thank you is to all of you – without you being here, we wouldn't have a competition. Food producers, farmers, whatever you are, you should be all so proud of what you do. Not only do you feed the public, you make the great British countryside look like it does, with no thank yous at times.

"A huge thank from me, and a huge thank you to Northern Farmer for everything that Northern Farmer do to support our industry – not just for today and tonight, but throughout the whole year."

Full coverage of the awards will be in the March edition of Northern Farmer, which is out next week, and included with the Darlington & Stockton Times on Friday, March 1.

Reflecting on the night, Hannah said: "A huge thank you to all our wonderful sponsors for their support, and congratulations to all our finalists and winners. It is a true privilege to be able to shine a light on the many achievements of our hardworking, passionate farming community, and celebrate what they do day in, day out, in all weathers, to put food on our plates."

The 2024 Northern Farmer Awards roll of honour:

Family Run Farm of the Year, sponsored by Yorkshire Agricultural Society;

Thompson family, Softley Farm, Butterknowle.

Farm Manager of the Year, sponsored by Thorpe Trees, York;

Jonathan Fryatt, Lightwater Farms, Ripon;

Arable Farmer of the Year, sponsored by White Rose Agriculture Ltd;

Tom Sanderson, The Grange, Topcliffe;

Dairy Farmer of the Year, sponsored by Lely, LC Longtown Ltd;

Ross Johnson and family, Low Whinholme Farm, Northallerton.

Young Farmer of the Year, sponsored by NFU Mutual;

Emily Hall, Scargill Farm, Barnard Castle;

Diversification Award, sponsored by H&H Group plc;

Jamie and Nicola Wood, Prendwick Farm, Alnwick.

Sheep Farmer of the Year, sponsored by Harper Adams University;

Simon Stott, of Laund Farm, Preston.

Beef Farmer of the Year, sponsored by Carr's Billington;

William Barker, Greylands Farm, Hinderwell.

Women in Agriculture, sponsored by George F. White;

Annie Stones, Nun Cote Nook Farm, Marrick;

Outstanding Achievement, sponsored by Askham Bryan College;

Emma King, Poultry Health Services, York;

Overall Northern Farmer of the Year, sponsored by Mole Country Stores;

Simon Stott, of Laund Farm, Preston.