Businesses from food and drink producers to tourism attractions, along with community organisations have been shortlisted for the awards which were launched last year by Norfolk County Council in partnership with the Royal Norfolk Agricultural Association (RNAA).
The winners were named at a ceremony at the showcase event on Thursday 26 June and presented their award by this year’s Show president Poul Hovesen.
The winners were:
Best Rural Community Initiative: Helping Hands (Thrive & The Pantry). Runner up: Folk in a Field.
Best Farming Innovation Adopter: Pearn Wyatt & Son. Runner up: Fischer Farms.
Best Food and Drink Producer: Nurtured in Norfolk. Runner up: Barsham Brewery.
Norfolk’s Unsung Hero: David Holliday (Moon Gazer Ale). Runners up: Ben Eagle (Rural Pod Media), Neal Sands (Sands Agricultural Machinery).
Best Farming Champion: Richard Hirst (Hirst Farms, Ormesby). Runners up: Michael Balls (Crown Point Estate, near Norwich), David Lyles (North Norfolk Coastal Group).
Best Emerging Talent: Winner, Henry Stanford. Runner up: Abigail Mallett.
Best Rural Tourism Attraction: Pensthorpe Natural Park. Runner up: Watatunga Wildlife Reserve.
Best Sustainable Land Use: The Wendling Beck Project. Runner up: North Norfolk Coastal Group.
Best Rural Business: Algy’s Farm Shop. Runners up: Massingham Stores & Post Office, The Angel Inn Loddon.
“Once again these awards have highlighted the amazing things that people, businesses and organisations are doing in our rural areas. I would like to congratulate all our winners and runners up.” Mark Nicholas, Managing Director of the Royal Norfolk Agricultural Association.
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