Broxton Farmer named finalist in Farmers Weekly competition

Aug 8 2008 by Naomi Dunning, Chester Chronicle

A BROXTON farmer is celebrating after a winning streak in local and national agricultural competitions.

Keith Siddorn, of Meadow Bank Farm, has been named a finalist in the Farmers Weekly Countryside Farmer of the Year competition.

Keith also recently came first in the Cheshire Farming Society competition wildlife and farming category and the farms under 250 acres category. He also came second in the Natural England future farms award.

He was announced as one of the three Farmers Weekly finalists in June and had to prepare the farm for a visit by a panel of judges.

Keith said: “The judges were here for a whole day and looked at a variety of aspects of the farm, including our business sense, technical expertise and our sense of social responsibility. It was quite a busy day.”

Keith now has to wait for a star-studded awards ceremony in London in October to find out whether he has won the competition.

Keith said: “There are 14 categories in the Farmers Weekly competitions and there are expected to be nearly 1,000 people at the event in London so it will be a big night.

“I entered three farming competitions this year and we have come out on top or near the top in all three. We are, of course, very pleased and it is great that all our hard work has been recognised.”