Shropshire’s farming industry celebrated at glittering night as the Rural Awards return

Around 200 farmers, farm suppliers, agricultural businesses and rural enterprises gathered at Shrewsbury Town Football Club on Thursday, October 22 for the Rural Awards 2026.

Hosted by The Farmer and sister publication the Shropshire Star, the event returned to celebrate the very best rural and agricultural businesses, organisations and people in the region and followed a hugely successful inaugural awards last year.

Dozens of hopefuls had been shortlisted in 12 categories, which ranged from the most coveted Farm of the Year and Farmer of the Year, to awards in diversification, sustainability and rural accommodation.

Following a silent auction and raffle in aid of chosen charity, Aphasia Support Charity - an organisation helping individuals with communication difficulties following a brain injury or stroke, the awards night began in earnest.

After praising the efforts of the firms that backed the awards, which included sponsors Ballards, Bright Maize, Berrys, Dyke Yaxley, GS & PA Reeves, HCR Law, P&L Agri, MFG Solicitors, WR Partners, and Wynnstay, the host, local broadcaster Dicky Dodd, introduced the nominations and announced the 12 winners from each category.

The winners were selected by judges: Dan Bowden (Barbers Rural), Charlotte Nutting (HCR Law), Charlotte Shepherd (Berrys), Richard Yates (Farmer and farming writer), Roy Jackson (WR Partners), and Rosemary Allen (retired farmer and farming writer).

From 10 acres to 320 in a decade

Farmer of the Year at the Rural Awards 2026 was named as Lee Gilbert, who only entered the farming sector in 2015 with just 10 acres and a few pigs. He has now turned that into a thriving 320 acre farm with hundreds of heads of cattle and pigs.

Lee, who runs LG Farms in Market Drayton, told the audience he was “gobsmacked” on receiving the award.

“There are such a lot of amazing people in this room I didn’t think I would be in the running for this award,” he said,

“It’s been a steep learning curve as a new entrant into farming. Certainly in the first six months I had a few regrets but we’ve grown from strength to strength.

“But the support from all the farming community, companies we work with, local farmers, friends - a great support network that has helped us grow.

“It is down to the help and support around you. It is down to everybody in this room who help each other along.”

Other winners on the night included Mawley Town Farm, which was named Farm of the Year.

Run by Adrian and Rachel Robinson, their business consists of a renewable-energy-powered dairy and arable farm located near Cleobury Mortimer on the Shropshire/Worcestershire border in the UK.

Among the other finalists there was also a double-winner as Oteley Estate, which took home not only the Farm Diversification Award but also Farm Shop of the Year.

Bridgnorth young farmers, Josh Barratt and Tom Wellings, who had organised the town’s Christmas tractor run and raised £60,000, were given a joint award for Young Farmer of the Year.

And there was also a poignant posthumous award given to the family of Ruth Griffiths, a pioneering farmer who died earlier this year, aged 101.

Other winners included Burlton Cottages & Spa, which took home the award for Rural Accommodation of the Year, CXCS Group Ltd, were named Agricultural Business of the Year, the Sustainable Initiative Award went to 21-year-old game butcher, Tia Williams at TW Game.

Meanwhile, Midlands Air Ambulance Charity’s First Farmer On Scene took home the award for Educational Initiative of the Year.

Edwards Seaweed Fertiliser UK were named Family Business of the Year, and the Edwards & Farmer Ltd Charity Tractor Run won Rural or Farming Event of the Year after the event raised £50,000 for two charities that helped Annabelle Farmer from machinery dealership Edwards & Farmer Ltd was left paralysed this year following an accident just weeks before her wedding.

The 2026 Rural Award winners:

Family Business of the Year

Edwards Seaweed Fertiliser UK

Farm Shop of the Year

Oteley Estate

Educational Initiative of the Year

Midlands Air Ambulance Charity First Farmer On Scene

Farming/Rural Event of the Year

Edwards & Farmer Ltd Charity Tractor Run

Rural Accommodation of the Year

Burlton Cottages & Spa

Agricultural Business of the Year

CXCS Group Ltd

Sustainable Initiative Award

T.W. Game

Farm Diversification Award

Oteley Estate

Young Farmer of the Year

Josh Barratt and Tom Wellings

Farmer of the Year

Lee Gilbert

Farm of the Year

Mawley Town Farm

Lifetime Achievement Award

Ruth Mary Griffiths