Christmas has come early for thirteen year old Jade Martin after winning first prize in a farming poetry competition.
Jade, from Gedney Drove End, Spalding, Lincolnshire took part in the NFU’s Let’s Talk Farming poetry challenge, run in association with Britains Farm Toys.
Her way with words has earned her the East Midlands’ regional prize of £100 worth of Britain’s Big Farm toys. 
Alison Pratt, NFU's regional press officer said: “Our competition was a real hit this year, with loads of entries and it was quite difficult to choose the winner, but Jade’s poem really stood out and captured life on a busy farm. When I first read it, I thought that Jade had an inside knowledge of farming and it’s proved to be the case: she loves helping her Mum’s partner, John on the farm where he works, in the school holidays.”
The competition was promoted through the NFU’s Let’s Talk Farming Roadshow as it toured the country, at local shows and on the internet.
Harriet Lampard from Britains Farm Toys said: “All of the entries this year have been absolutely brilliant and really impressive. The children have articulated perfectly just how much they have learnt about farming. With their prizes they can now put their learning into practice with their own farms!"
Jade received her prize this week (Tuesday 20 December) on the farm where her mother's partner, John Wright works at Holbeach St Marks, Lincolnshire. Her certificate and box full of Britains Bigg Farm Toys were handed over by NFU county vice chairman for Holland (Lincs), Ian Stancer (far right). And on hand to help her with her prize were her little sister Emma Jayne, John Wright (left) and assistant farm manager at Hay Farming Ltd, Alex West (second left). You can see more photos of the prize presentation at http://www.flickr.com/photos/
My Poem – By Jade Martin, aged 12
On a farm you might grow
Kale, carrots and spuds
On a farm there is
Lots and lots of mud!
Pigs eating from a trough
Sheep and cows laying here and there
Chickens pecking off the floor
Horses trotting everywhere
Tractors pull the ploughs
Combines harvest the wheat
Sprayers kill the weeds and beet lifters lift sugar beet
Hay bales round and square
Barn owls swoop above your head
Crates full with lots of crops
Hey look! Here comes a tractor that’s red!
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