Now in its tenth year, Back British Farming Day continues to highlight the importance of agriculture and horticulture for food production, to the economy, jobs, tourism, communities and the countryside.
The day began with the traditional Westminster reception – held at the NFU’s London office – where MPs picked up their wheat sheaf badges.
Wycombe MP Emma Reynolds, newly promoted to the role of Defra Secretary of State, and still in her first week in the role, was the guest speaker at a reception.
But at the heart of the day, when a survey confirmed farming remained the second most popular profession in the country – only beaten by nursing – were the farming heroes nominated by Back British Farming Day supporters.
Here are the South heroes, and the reasons why they were nominated.
David Burnfield, Burnfield & Sons, Hampshire
David is always the go-to person in our village and local community if people need help, such as pulling cars out when they are stuck in the mud and cutting down trees that have fallen down in the road after a storm.
He has helped with the new village playground, removing the old equipment, smoothing out the ground after installation, providing loos for the workers, and generally being very kind and supportive of the village community.
He is heavily involved in the local Growmore Club and regularly invites local Young Farmers to his farm and often gives talks and offers work experience.
Every year David puts on an annual three-day Vintage Tractor Rally on the farm, raising funds for the Hampshire air ambulance.
Stephen Crossman, Mill Farm, Wiltshire
Steve has been a huge help, like his father before him, in his village of Horningsham, a great support and an unsung hero in every field, whether it’s providing a donkey for Palm Sunday, serving as chairman on the parish council, helping keep the roads clear, not to mention working hard on the farm at the same time.
Chris Fenemore and family, Home Farm, Oxfordshire
During Covid Chris and his wife, Naomi, started a community shop selling things we could not buy, including flour, yeast, toilet rolls. They put notices up around the farm showing people what they were looking at as they walked around.
This has now expanded to a shop hosted twice a month selling meat, lamb, pork, goat, eggs and honey as well as appearing in the local farmers’ market.
Chris is always out helping to move fallen trees. He is also a part-time fire fighter.
Chris works the farm with his wife and eldest son. More recently, his younger son has trained as a butcher and he is now butchering their own meat.
This is more a farming family of Heroes than a single person.
James Florey, Churchill Farm, Oxfordshire
A hard-working farmer who cares for his animals and the environment. He is a well-respected member of the community and is well liked by everyone.
Paul Gluyas, Pencoose Farm, Cornwall
Paul is a pillar of the community, he gave a talk about farming to the local WI and local schoolchildren have visited the farm.
This involved help from his family of course. Long standing family farmers with high regard for farming practise, all the family should be nominated in fact!
Clive Handy, Hampen Farm, Gloucestershire
Regen farmer, heritage grain grower, rare breed sheep, producing wool, dyes and woollen products, farm shop, market garden, collaborators, part of the Cotswold flour project, Pasture for Life, all round good egg with his dynamic wife Lydia.
James Kittow, Kilhallon, Cornwall
I buy most of my fresh meat from James. It is wholesome and good quality. James cares passionately about his animals and his land.
Ben Kolosowski, Chitty Farm, Hampshire
Great local family run farm. They have cows to help maintain local heathlands and maintain fences.
We bought one of their turkeys last Christmas and it was the best turkey I’ve ever eaten. They have free range sheep, cows and turkeys, the animals are well looked after.
Stuart Luxton, Farmer Luxtons, Devon
Stuart runs a fabulous farm shop on the edge of Dartmoor.
His beef and lamb are home grown and butchered and graze within sight of the business. His staff are extremely helpful, and nothing is too much trouble. His pork and chicken and game are supplied locally, and he insists on the same standards as of his meat production.
The business is as eco-friendly as possible with the use of solar panels, and sustainability is his watchword. His butchers are youngsters who he is putting through training courses.
He and the business deserve recognition for the way they support the Devon community.
David Newman and Tracy Russell, Bucksum, Buckinghamshire
If every UK community had a Bucksum, quite simply so many of the issues that the country is facing would be sorted.
Hard working, hugely community minded (and facing), grows (and sells) great food and helps others to grow food too, innovative and regenerative farming, educates others and fabulous partnership with wife Tracy. We are so lucky to have them.
Deborah and Simon Phillips, Colleton Beef, Devon
Have dedicated their lives to the breeding of Red Ruby beef, whilst also being at the heart of the community in parish politics, local agricultural shows and diversifying to continue in hard times.
They support the breed by being involved in the development and administration of breeders of Red Rubies.
Despite their busy lives, they are highly regarded and a core part of life in North Devon and Chulmleigh.