This year鈥檚 Meurig Raymond Award 鈥� named after the NFU鈥檚 former President 鈥� was last night presented to NFU member Phil Smallwood.
Phil, who farms at Middlewich, is well known for successfully delivering the award-winning Let鈥檚 Talk Farming marquee at the Royal Cheshire Show, as well as promoting farming to the public at other events across the county.
He also works closely with local schools to organise educational visits and, over the past 30 years, has hosted hundreds of young children and teenagers on his farm.
A third-generation farmer, Phil is also a dedicated supporter of several farming charities, raising funds for both RABI (the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution) and Farming Community Network.
Promoting the industry
He said: 鈥淚 feel that as a farmer it鈥檚 really important to be getting out there and promoting the industry, that鈥檚 why I do what I do. You can鈥檛 expect other people to be doing it for you.
鈥淚t started more than 30 years ago when I joined the NFU, and when I got the promotional trailer the idea was to do about half a dozen events every year. Last year we went to 29 events and the diary鈥檚 already full for this year.鈥�
鈥淎s a farmer it鈥檚 really important to be getting out there and promoting the industry, that鈥檚 why I do what I do.鈥�
Phil Smallwood, winner of the Meurig Raymond Award
Unsung hero
NFU Director General Terry Jones said: 鈥淚鈥檓 absolutely delighted that Phil has won this year鈥檚 Meurig Raymond award. The judges had the unenviable task of selecting one person, and from our eight fantastic nominees, Phil really stood out as the worthy overall winner.
鈥淧hil鈥檚 one of those unsung farming heroes. When he鈥檚 not running his own farming business, he鈥檚 more than happy to provide an authentic voice as part of NFU campaigns; engaging with colleagues from across the organisation, with stakeholders, politicians or the media on a range of farming issues.
鈥淧hil鈥檚 commitment and positivity in promoting British food and farming throughout his local community, across Cheshire and the North West, makes him a very worthy winner of this year鈥檚 award.鈥�
Phil Smallwood, representing NFU North West, was selected from eight nominees drawn from each of the NFU鈥檚 seven English regions and NFU Cymru.
The other nominees were:
- Luke Abblitt 鈥� East Anglia
- Derek Jarman 鈥� West Midlands
- Geoff Hotchkin 鈥� East Midlands
- Paula Matthews 鈥� South East
- Mark Humphrey 鈥� South West
- Martin Stephenson 鈥� North East
- Roger Lewis 鈥� NFU Cymru
鈥淧hil鈥檚 commitment and positivity in promoting British food and farming throughout his local community, across Cheshire and the North West, makes him a very worthy winner of this year鈥檚 award.鈥�
NFU Director General Terry Jones