The West Country Dairy Awards were established in 1925 to provide grants to students on dairy-related training courses. This year the charitable organisation distributed more than £22,000 to young people looking to further their skills within the dairy industry.
They are open to anyone living in Devon, Cornwall, Somerset or Dorset.
The finals day was kindly hosted by Crediton Dairy and the finals day judges included Andrew Butler from Crediton Dairy and Dr Karen Wonnacott from the Crediton Milling Company.
They were impressed by Holly’s genuine passion for dairy farming, genetics and agronomy. Holly has got fully involved in the dairy industry and has gained knowledge and practical experience during her time at college, university and her workplace.
Holly said: “From the initial application through to the finals day at Crediton Dairy, the whole experience has been incredibly rewarding. To have my passion, commitment and ambitions within the dairy industry recognised in this way is something I feel extremely fortunate and grateful for.
“For me, that is what makes this award so special. It is not simply about winning £2,000; it is about the doors that it opens. The financial support will be incredibly valuable towards my education and future plans, but the knowledge, experiences, connections and confidence that will come from being part of this award are just as important.
“It has already introduced me to new people and opportunities that I may not otherwise have had, and I am determined to make the absolute most of them.”
Karen Wonnacott commented “All judges were incredibly impressed with the high calibre of applicants interviewed, and all students demonstrated an impressive passion and commitment to our amazing dairy industry. All finalists should be commended on their knowledge, professionalism and desire to learn; the future of our industry is certainly in safe hands!”
Applicants were interviewed at county level with the best five chosen to move on to the Finals Day.
In addition to Holly, the other finalists were: Maddie Brown (Devon), Charlotte Cox (Cornwall), Lucie Harvey (Somerset) and Sophie Raymond (Dorset).