5 tips for compiling a top Farmers Weekly Awards entry

Want to enter the Farmers Weekly Awards, but unsure how to compile an outstanding entry?

We know farmers are very busy, especially as spring gets under way, so we have produced a simple guide to help you save some time.

It outlines:

• What you must include, which the judges will expect to see
• What isn’t that important that you can miss out if you want to save time
• How to make your entry outstanding and make the judges notice you

See also: It’s quick and easy to file your entry via the Awards website

1. Don’t write an essay

The entry form has a list of 10-12 questions – you need to answer these with as much detail as possible.

Don’t feel like you have to write loads, though. Keep it short and simple if you prefer, and you can even use bullet points to make it easier to get the most important bit across.

2. Do include your turnover and pre-tax profit

This is strictly confidential information – it will not be shared or published without your permission, but it must be included to enable the judges to assess your business.

If the accounts don’t show that your business has made a profit, it doesn’t necessarily mean you won’t get shortlisted.

Sometimes a business might have grown significantly, or perhaps it has been a particularly bad year for your sector. Explain how this has affected your business and it will be taken into consideration by the judges.

It is also helpful if you can give a snapshot of accounts over a five-year period so one year isn’t taken in isolation. This may give a better representation of your business and how it has changed.

3. Give us proof of business performance

If you have improved your output, for example raising crop yields, the milk production and fertility of your dairy herd, liveweight gains or other livestock performance measures, then give us figures to show this, as well as evidence of how this has been achieved.

If you use key performance indicators (KPIs), tell us about these and how your figures compare to national averages

4. Demonstrate what really makes you stand out from the crowd

We also want to know what you’re doing beyond the farm gate to promote British agriculture and help put farming at the top of the political agenda.

• Perhaps you are engaging with schools or using Open Farm Sunday to inspire the next generation and educate young consumers
• Are you involved with the local community in other ways, or with farming unions or boards in helping to shape farming’s future?
• Or maybe you’re a keyboard warrior and are using social media to share how fantastic our industry is

However big or small your role is, it helps you paint a picture for the judges and convey to them why you feel you deserve to win.

5. Don’t feel like you need to produce a marketing leaflet

Pictures, words of endorsements from suppliers and promotional materials are great, but don’t feel like you have to include these.

Getting the basics right is the most important aspect so that the judges can get a clear impression of you and your business.

The judges are more concerned with seeing cold, hard facts about the performance of your business and your management approach rather than lots of impressive photos.

Still have unanswered questions?

Contact our awards team who will be more than happy to assist you. Go the Farmers Weekly Awards website for details on how to contact us.