Cream of the crop - Taste Awards winners announced

The winners of the 2014 Taste of Gloucestershire Food & Farming Awards were revealed last night at a black tie dinner attended by more than 200 representatives from the food, farming and drink industries.

We sponsored “Farmer of the Year”, which is one of 11 categories that celebrates the best of Gloucestershire – its farmers, producers, retailers, pubs, farm shops and restaurants.

Congratulations to farmers Simon and Sarah Righton of Old Farm in Moreton-in-Marsh who were crowned winners by the judging panel, which was made up of well-respected farming experts in the county.

Frank Smith, who heads up Willans’ agriculture and estates department, was part of the panel and presented the award last night for what the panel felt was a “good example” of successful third generation tenant farmers operating traditional mixed farming methods across 300 acres. 

He said:

“Congratulations to the Rightons. The panel visited some fantastic farms any of which we could have chosen as winners, but in the end the Rightons came out on top. Their farm perfectly embodied the spirit of this category: a true working farm set in glorious Gloucestershire countryside where all members of the family are involved.

“They demonstrate real entrepreneurial flair by maximising their traditional buildings and the natural resources of their land, resulting in a modern well-run stock farm with added retail and accommodation benefits.”

Simon and Sarah commented on their success:

“We are over the moon. It’s a fantastic honour to be amongst everyone here and it is really nice to be recognised for what we do. It is our lifestyle choice, we don’t do it for recognition but it is nice to be rewarded.”

Well done to Ian and Cathy Boyd and Jess and Mike Vaughan who were the runner-ups in the best farmer category, and to the finalists and winners of all the other categories.

Our agriculture and estates team provides authoritative legal advice to equestrian businesses, farming partnerships, landowners and those buying prime agricultural property.