Members in our region along with many more across the country pulled out all the stops to celebrate British farming and deliver crucial industry messages to the public and politicians.
In the corridors of power
Midlands MPs gathered at the NFU Westminster reception to kick Back British Farming Day off, speaking to NFU Midlands Regional Director Rob Newbery and NFU Poultry Board Chair and Shropshire member James Mottershead, among other senior farming figures.
MPs present included Julia Buckley (Shrewsbury), pictured above talking to Mr Mottershead, Stuart Anderson (South Shropshire), John Whitby (Derbyshire Dales), Sir John Hayes (South Holland and The Deepings), pictured below speaking to Midlands RD Rob Newbery, Shadow Defra Secretary Victoria Atkins (Louth and Horncastle) and the Efra Committee's Sarah Bool (South Northamptonshire). Ms Bool also quizzed the Treasury on the family farm tax in Parliament on the day.
Meetings with MPs were also held in the run up to the event and virtually on the day due to industrial action on the London Underground.
Politicians from across parties also showed their support on social media and elsewhere with others wearing wheatsheaf pin badges in Westminster and during PMQs.
In the limelight
Throughout the day, farmers from our region were interviewed by the news media, giving the industry the chance to give key policy asks the limelight.
NFU Midlands Regional Board Vice-chair and Warwickshire County Chair Mark Meadows appeared in front of the BBC Midlands Today cameras talking about stewardship and Back British Farming Day, with Staffordshire County Chair Martin Brown, Herefordshire County Chair Martin Williams and Nottinghamshire Council Delegate Patrick Lynn all being interviewed on BBC local radio.
Herefordshire member Esther Rudge's interview on Greatest Hits Radio Midlands was played in their news bulletins as were Global Radio reports featuring Warwickshire Council Delegate Adam Quinney and Staffordshire member Richard Bower, who all spoke about BBF Day as well as major challenges faced by the industry.
And over on social media, Derbyshire member Emily Mosley and Warwickshire sheep and arable farmer Roy Baylis spoke on selfie videos about why they are proud to be British farmers and why the public should back British farming, seen by thousands of social media users.