About 280 farmers and growers attended the Kent county showground to see Jamie McGrorty from South East Farmer – which sponsored the ball – present the prizes with Kent farmer Jo Forknall.

The fund will subsidise training costs which will help youngsters aged between 16 and 18 on to the first rung of the ladder by, for example, paying for tractor and trailer testing and spraying courses.

The fund is for young people who have no straightforward path into farming via family connections or do not want to – or are unable to – pursue a full time college or university placement. Nominations for the 2017 prize are already open and should be sent to the RAMSAK agrena offices right up until 1 October 2017.

This year’s prize winners are:

ARABLE FARMER OF THE YEAR

A A CLIFTON Ltd

AA Clifton Ltd (AAC) is a farm located on Romney Marsh. The Clifton family founded the business in 1903 in Lincolnshire. Just after the war in 1948 Alan Clifton made the farm a limited company and started to make the business stride forward, buying his first farm on the Romney Marsh Kent.

In 1956 AAC was due for more bold steps in business when Alan Clifton invested in Southern Ireland rearing beef to bring to back to England. He also grew bulbs and wheat. With an offer he couldn’t refuse, in 1971 he sold the farm but immediately purchased another farm in Cornwall. Unfortunately Alan Clifton died in 1977 and, the following year, the farm in Cornwall was sold. However, more land was bought in Kent, leaving AA Clifton Ltd with land in Lincolnshire and Kent. Over the next 30 years these farms continued to expand.

Now the farm is run by Robert and Anne Clifton-Holt, the daughter of Alan Clifton. The agricultural side of the business is focused at Haguelands Farm on the Romney Marsh. This covers an area of 902.5 hectares. and the main crops are wheat, oil-seed rape, potatoes, vining peas. The farm also provides fresh vegetables and salads for the farm shop.

The farm is part of the countryside stewardship scheme under which the land is managed in an environmentally beneficial way, taking into account wildlife, landscape and history.

FRUIT GROWER OF THE YEAR

CLOCKHOUSE FARM

Clock House Farm Limited is a family run business, farming approximately 330 hectares to the south of Coxheath in Kent. They also farm a further 30 hectares at a satellite site near Tonbridge and extend their blackberry growing season at the Kenardington glasshouse site near Ashford.

Clock House Farm was originally set up by Clive Murdoch, Camilla Pascall’s grandfather, in 1903. Clive farmed in Coxheath and Linton until his death in 1944 when his son, Robert Murdoch returned from the Second World War and developed an active farming concern in post war Britain with Hubert Allfrey.

Murdoch & Allfrey grew top fruit, hops and cherries for many years before expanding into soft fruit in 1985. The business ceased growing hops in 1984 and cherries in 1993. In 1987 Robert Murdoch retired and Robert and Camilla Pascall took responsibility for the management and strategic planning of the business. Robert rapidly expanded the soft fruit production area, taking it from one hectare to one hundred hectares and the top fruit area from twenty to ninety hectares. In addition, Robert also introduced fifteen hectares of stone fruit to compliment the mix of crops.

Through long term vision, sustained investment and a high standard of horticultural excellence, Clock House Farm under Robert Pascall’s leadership has become financially robust and a leader in its sector today.

SHEEP FARMER OF THE YEAR

EW & RE HANKS

Farming 2,700 acres, EW & RE Hanks run 1,000 breeding ewes, 1,600 spring lambs, 500 tegs, and 20 Suffolk rams. They also have a 250 head suckler herd, plus followers

FAMILY FARMING BUSINESS OF THE YEAR

PHILIP SEATH

The total acreage farmed at both Lydden and Westbere, Canterbury is 325. Land at Bell Farm Lydden is owned by the Ministry of Defence. Business is mixed arable/livestock. Total livestock is roughly 160 to 180 depending on the time of year. 80 breeding cows, mostly Aberdeen Angus cross and two stock bulls, one Aberdeen Angus and one Limousin. Currently young stock are sold as stores. Working closely with English Nature helps to conserve wildlife habitats.

Land at Lydden consists of steep banks which are difficult to farm but are a valuable assessment to English Nature as they are home to various species of orchids and wild flowers. John took tenancy in 1986 and died in 2014. Phillip was doing a large percentage of work on the farm a few years prior to 2014 and after that date took charge of farming the land. It has been an interesting but difficult two years but he now has an interim tenancy of one year to be followed by a 10 year farm business tenancy. He is trying to develop his own ideas for the business and has the close support of his partner Chloe.

DAIRY FARMER OF THE YEAR

HICKSON BROTHERS
Farming about 1,700 acres between Dover and Deal along part of the White Cliffs. This is a mixed farm, milking about 500 Jersey dairy cows. William’s is a closed herd and has been for many many years. He employs 10 people and rents a farm at Wormshill where William rears all his youngstock. He milks in a large rotary parlour in just over two hours.

BEEF FARMER OF THE YEAR

MB FARMS

MB Farms are based at Parsonage Farm in Stockbury and run a successful Butchers and farm shop reared on their traditional Kentish Farm. They appreciate the high standards that their customers expect and pride themselves on achieving the supply of quality meats, through their team’s dedication, service and traditional skills.

Their animals and poultry are compassionately reared and bred being fully traceable and recorded as required by strict health and safety hygiene regulations. Responsible stewardship of the countryside is also a strong element of MB Farm’s philosophy.