NOMINATIONS are open for the first ever Three Counties Farmer Farming Awards.

Categories include fruit, hop, cattle, sheep, pig, poultry and arable farming, as well as awards for sustainability and diversification, family run farms, young farmer, farming hero and farming contractor.

Some of the money raised during the evening will go to charity the Addington Fund, which helps to find homes for farming families that have had to leave the industry.

Three Counties Farmer, a sister title of the Worcester News, is staging the awards with the Royal Three Counties Show on Thursday, June 13, on the eve of the Show, where awards in 11 categories will be presented.

Organiser Sue Griffiths said: “The awards recognise all the effort and hard work of individuals,” said.

“There is a massive appetite for people to get engaged and nominate their agricultural friends, family and colleagues.

“Farmers can put themselves forward, too.”

She added: “Farming is an under-recognised sector.

The hard work involved is not always recognised and understood. This is an opportunity to actually praise and acknowledge and give some recognition back.

“Farming is not just a job, it’s a way of life, and that will continue whatever Brexit may bring.”

Three Counties Farmer, a sister publication of the Worcester News, is staging the awards with the Royal Three Counties Show.

Sue and the rest of the magazine’s team will return to the showground on the evening of Thursday, June 13, the eve of the Royal Three Counties Show, where awards in 11 categories will be presented at a special gala dinner.

Three Counties head of shows Diana Walton said: “We are delighted to be able to partner with Newsquest (the Hereford Times publisher) and provide a first-class facility to host the awards evening and support the charity, the Addington Fund, who work tirelessly for the farming community.”

“The awards are important as they recognise that agriculture is a hard industry and people work very hard.

“Farmers are not always the best at singing their own virtues.”

The awards are also supported by headline sponsor, Harper Adams University, as well as the Countryside Restoration Trust and Western Power Distribution.

Farming ambassador and Countryfile presenter Adam Henson threw his weight behind the awards when making the initial announcement of the big evening at the Three Counties Farming Conference in November.

He said: “It’s a chance to throw the spotlight on farmers and farm workers who go about their work quietly and diligently. Often they are unsung heroes.”

“It’s a brilliant initiative to celebrate farmers’ success in the Three Counties.”

Nominate at worcesternews.co.uk/awards/tcf