Why these farming heroes won NFU community awards

The NFU has created a new award to recognise farmers who play an important role in their community.

Whether raising thousands of pounds for charities, educating consumers about agriculture, or supporting neighbours during extreme weather, these farmers have gone the extra mile.

The inaugural NFU Community Farming Hero awards saw eight regional winners named on Back British Farming Day, 2 November. The winners attended a ceremony in London.

See also: Farmers Weekly Awards 2022: Farming Champion of the Year

The NFU received 115 nominations from MPs and these farmers automatically became constituency winners of the award.

They were then in with a chance to be named a regional winner, judged by NFU leaders.

Here is a rundown of the eight regional winners and the important work they are doing.

Morgan Tudor – Wales

Morgan Tudor, from Llanerfyl near Welshpool, Powys, has been recognised for his brilliant engagement with the local community.

Morgan took over the running of Llysun, the family farm, following the death of his father, Richard, in a tractor accident in April 2020.

He is successfully running the business in his father’s memory, milking 500 cows and keeping a flock of sheep, with the support of family and staff from the area.

Away from the farm, Morgan still manages to find the time to play a part in his local community.

This includes inviting local groups for a tour of Llysun dairy, writing a regular column for the local Papur Bro Welsh-language newspaper, along with being an active member of Dyffryn Banw Young Farmers’ Club.

NFU Cymru president Aled Jones said: “Morgan’s story of triumph over adversity after a family tragedy is truly inspiring and he is also someone who gives a great deal back to his local community.”

Olly Harrison – North West

Olly Harrison, from Prescot in Merseyside, has been recognised for his impressive fundraising efforts. The arable farmer turned his large grain shed into a storage and distribution centre for aid to be sent to Ukraine.

He has also helped raise more than £100,000 for Alder Hey Children’s Hospital over the past two years by organising Christmas tractor runs through Liverpool.

If that were not enough, Olly created a sunflower maze in 2020, raising more than £40,000 for NHS charities to help their response to the coronavirus pandemic.

Well known for his YouTube channel, Olly Blogs Agricontract farmer, his latest fundraising idea involves displaying viewers’ birthday messages on his sprayer for a fee.

This has so far raised £15,000 for the North West Air Ambulance.

Olly said: “It’s great to see so many amazing farmers being recognised through this award for the work they do, not just in the world of food production and environmental delivery, but for their community.

“As farmers, we see this happen every day and it’s great to know that our MPs now see it and appreciate it too.”

 John Duggleby – North East

John Duggleby has spent more than 30 years helping protect his rural community from persistent flooding.

Farming a mile from the River Hull, John is a longstanding volunteer member of the Beverley and Holderness Internal Drainage Board.

As chairman for more than 15 years until 2020, he proved a staunch advocate for increased river maintenance.

He argued that this not only reduces the risk of further flooding, but also helps preserve the productivity of local farmland – benefiting farm businesses and the wider rural economy.

John was nominated for the award by his MP, Graham Stuart, who said he has consistently supported the local community during hard times through his tireless campaigning for better water management following the catastrophic floods of 2007, and again in 2018.

NFU North East regional director Adam Bedford said:

“John epitomises the selfless effort we so often see our members make. There is no doubt he has made a real difference and it is great to see his contribution appreciated and recognised by Mr Stuart.”

Cathy Leahy – East Anglia

Hertfordshire farmer Cathy Leahy has been recognised for her impressive work in the community, including with the Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA), and as an organiser of the St Albans Parkrun.

Described as a “genuine agricultural champion” by St Albans Liberal Democrat MP Daisy Cooper, the farmer has been involved with the RDA for many years, first at Oaklands College and then with the Penniwells Group, based at Elstree.

It started when her horse, Brandy, was stabled at Oaklands and the local RDA group asked if they could borrow him.

“It’s such a great charity, which does a huge amount for the people who are involved. The amount they get out of it is great to see, and I really enjoy being part of that,” said Cathy, who lives in St Albans, but farms at Runways Farm near Hemel Hempstead.

The former airfield site includes 60ha of cereal crops and as well as several business diversifications.

Ian Watson – East Midlands

Ian Watson, the farm manager at Louth Park Farms in Lincolnshire, was nominated by his constituency’s MP, Victoria Atkins.

He has played a vital role in delivering a farm fire training programme and developing an adapter that enables access to on-farm water bowsers – helping to save lives, property, livestock and crops.

The adapter was tested this summer when, on the hottest day of the year, a fire broke out in a field near Louth.

Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue were assisted by 15 farmers with water bowsers and tankers, helping to save 60ha of standing crop and a grain store.

“It is a real honour to be awarded, but I see it very much as a team award,” said Ian.

“Everyone involved deserves to be praised for all the work they have put into this project. Without that we wouldn’t be where we are.”

Andrew and Alison Musson – South West

Beef and sheep farmers Andrew and Alison Musson have been described by the NFU as “unsung, modest heroes” for the support they provide to some of Devon’s most vulnerable children.

Over the years, around 90 children have been given a safe and supportive home thanks to the farming couple.

Andrew and Alison still take mothers and babies in on a regular basis, offering much-needed support.

Geoffrey Cox, MP for Torridge and West Devon, who nominated the Mussons, said:

“Their abiding and invaluable contribution to society has changed the lives of some of Devon’s most desperate children, and I am proud to nominate them for this award in recognition of that extraordinary service.”

Andrew said: “We had a fantastic time at Back British Farming Day. It was great to have some recognition for the work we have done and have the opportunity to fly the flag for our industry, but it was also humbling to meet all the other winners and hear their stories, which were amazing.

“As well as raising the profile of the industry with MPs, they were able to see all the good work that had been done and that it’s not just about growing crops. Farmers are part of the community.”

James and Emma Loder-Symonds – South East

James and Emma Loder-Symonds have been recognised for their work to educate schoolchildren and the wider public about agriculture.

The couple, who run Nonington Farms near Canterbury in Kent, host inspiring educational sessions and public open days. Over the past year, more than 1,000 children have visited the farm.

Organised field trips for local groups cover a range of learning activities and the couple are involved in Leaf’s Open Farm Sunday.

More than 20% of the farm is in a conservation scheme and initiatives focus on wild bird and bee plots.

James and Emma said: “It’s a great honour to be nominated for this regional award and it makes all the hard work worth it. We are really excited about the future of Nonington Farms and working together with the community.”

Andy and Lynda Eadon – West Midlands

Andy and Lynda Eadon have been recognised for their campaigning and fundraising work following the death of their son, Leonard.

Len took his own life on 1 January 2022 and Andy and Lynda have been raising awareness and funds ever since to help prevent their family tragedy happening to others.

Since January, with support from those in Warwickshire and beyond, the Stratford and South Warwickshire NFU members have raised more than £80,000 for various charities.

Vital funds have gone to suicide prevention charity Papyrus, The Farm Safety Foundation and The Farming Community Network.

Lynda said: “We have tried to make, what is essentially a very difficult subject more open to discussion and one that youngsters, in particular, recognise and are prepared to talk about.

“We want young people to recognise the signs and symptoms of someone struggling and to be able to support each other by feeling able to start a conversation.”