Farmer with humble roots lands an award
Guy Poskitt (second from left) collects his award from (L-R) Jane King (editor, Farmers Weekly), Colm McKay (Agriculture Director, British Sugar) and Lord Seb Coe.
HE’S top of the crops!
A Kellington farmer has harvested the Farmer of the Year award. Guy Poskitt was also named Arable Farmer of the Year at the Farmers Weekly Awards last week.
The judges said: “Guy is leading one of Britain’s most successful farming operations, showing huge determination to build up his business from small beginnings. He knows he hasn’t got the best land, but is making the most of it. He looked for profitable opportunities and equipped himself with dedicated and positive team.”
Guy, aged 44, operates a 25,000 hectare arable farm, The Firs, at Kellington growing carrots, parsnips, swedes, wheat, barley and potatoes. The farm also has a small herd of cattle and the company also grow carrots and parsnips at sites in Lancashire and Scotland.
At busy times of the year the farm employs 250 people.
Guy said: “I took over The Firs from my mother when I was 20. Mum had been running it for several years, as unfortunately my dad died quite young.
“It was around 250 hectares when I took it over, but we’ve grown it gradually over the years. Our biggest customer by far is Asda, to which we supply carrots.”
And this year, the company are trying to root out interest in a new product.
“This is the first year we’ve grown pumpkins – in fact we’ve started picking them this week,” Guy said. “It’s a new thing for us, but I guess we’ll know how its gone by the end of this month!”
He added: “I’d like to thank our team, who made winning the award possible.”
The Farmers Weekly Awards were presented at the Grosvenor House Hotel, London last Thursday.
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Sunday 19 May 2013
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