Pinnacle Awards

A NOTTINGHAM University student has scooped the 2023 Farmers Club Pinnacle Award for farm business management held at The Farmers Club.

Sponsored by the Cave Foundation and run with consultancy firm ADAS this prestigious competition drew entries from colleges and universities across the United Kingdom.

Overall winner was James Drysdale of Nottingham University, with Tim Cotterill from Harper Adams University second, and Anna Frick also from Harper Adams third.

Practical solutions

Celebrating its 26th year the competition seeks to identify young people destined to lead rural businesses in the future, an ambition first realised by awards instigator and 1997 Club Chairman, Roy Walker.

The judges were keen to see detailed plans that would help farms cope as support payments fall. A firm grasp of the key principles of business planning, finance, cashflow and sensitivity analysis was essential.

Prof William McKelvey, Chair of the judging panel, commended the finalists for their dedication and commitment. Their efforts were scrutinised by a judging panel of ADAS Technical Director Business Management James Dunn, Farmers Club Chairman, West Wales farmer and former NFU President Meurig Raymond, and ADAS Agri Business Consultant Josh Brock.

The keenly contested competition saw ADAS sift a long-list of entrants to generate a shortlist of eight for interview in The Club. Key criteria for judging day were the ability to write a report concisely, a determination to defend it, clear presentation style, strong communication skills, and a good degree of common sense, and self-confidence.

“Deciding a winner was the hardest it has been for some years,” noted Prof McKelvey. “A number of the students expressed how very grateful they were for the opportunity to be involved in the competition.”

The awards were presented by guest speaker and Farmers Club Committee Member Tom Rawson, who gave an inspiring after dinner talk about his innovative dairy business operating across several counties in the UK.

Opportunities seized

A strong focus on practical farming was important for the judges. “The finalists all demonstrated an ability to analyse new enterprises that would add profitability to farming businesses at a time of great challenge,” noted Mr Dunn.

“The future of agriculture and rural activities is in very safe hands,” agreed Mr Raymond.

In his final year as chair of judges Prof McKelvey wished new chair Prof Nigel Scollan of Queen’s University, Belfast all the best for 2024. “I have enjoyed chairing the panel for eight years and have been greatly inspired by the enthusiasm and professionalism of the students.”

After the formalities the finalists, judges, family, friends and tutors joined to enjoy a fine celebration dinner.

A tenancy bid included diversifications into rye and borage, rearing ducks and ewe lambs, dog exercise fields, a sunflower maze and hay re-baling, all carefully costed, with detailed plans and market research.

Creating and promoting two high quality dog exercise fields near a major population centre, with careful consideration of occupancy rates and sensitivity analysis of possible booking shortfalls.

An on-farm outdoor gym, with a small in-door gym and activity room, fully costed with analysis of local competitors and detailed marketing plans.

All finalists receive one-year free Club membership

Holly Bonner

Bridgewater & Taunton University

A new dairy goat enterprise on a tenanted farm included good practical detail, well researched marketing options and good costings.

Sarah Bramwell

Newcastle University

Block cropping and environmental options, plus a machinery strategy and benchmarking were considered for the college farm.

Oliver Dascombe

Bridgewater & Taunton University

Detailed analysis of the benefits from adding a robot milker to the college farm, including practical issues, costs and welfare considerations.

Drone usage, linked to detailed mapping and at-cost nutrient supply, ready for drone spraying once legal, with a novel co-operative structure.

Stewart Mcilwraith SRUC

Locally branded hot chocolate bags produced on-farm were fully explored, including market options and business structure.