Harper Adams University: Trio of students make it to final of West Country Dairy Awards

A trio of Harper Adams students have been named among the six finalists in this year’s West Country Dairy awards – with each taking home £1,000 in prize money.

The West Country Dairy Awards were established in 1925 to provide grants to people studying dairy-related training courses.

One of the award’s judges, Alex Stevens, Regional Policy Manager, NFU, said: “The standard of all finalists this year was particularly exceptional, and as judges we had a tough time selecting a winner from a group of candidates who, in any other year, could have won in their own right.”

BSc (Hons) Agriculture student Imogen Greenaway, from Somerset, BSc (Hons) Rural Enterprise and Land Management student Jack Howard, also from Somerset, and BSc (Hons) Agri-Food Marketing with Business student, Tamsin Knowles, from Cornwall, each secured a place in the final six of the award.

This year, thanks to its generous sponsors, the charitable organisation distributed over £16,000 to young people looking to further their skills within the dairy industry. The awards are open to anyone living in Devon, Cornwall, Somerset or Dorset.

Chairman Richard Kallaway added: “Every candidate demonstrated a passion and commitment to the dairy sector, and whether they enter the veterinary profession, an advisory role or become dairy farmers themselves, it is absolutely clear that with great people coming through the system the dairy industry will be in safe hands for many years to come.”

The fund is sponsored by A C Mole, Arla Foods, Azets, Barber’s, Bath & West of England Society, Cogent UK, Cooper and Tanner, Cornish Mutual, Crediton Dairy, Crediton Milling Company, Dairy Crest Direct, Devon County Agricultural Association, Foot Anstey, Glastonbury Festival, Harpers Feeds, Lely, Lye Cross Farm, Mole Valley Farmers, Mount Vets, NFU, Old Mill, Royal Cornwall Agricultural Association, Saputo Dairy UK, Synergy Farm Health, Trewithen Dairy and Wyke Farms.