Farm Worker of the Year

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0:00:02 > 0:00:03Across the country,

0:00:03 > 0:00:07thousands of farming families work tirelessly around the clock.

0:00:08 > 0:00:10Bring them up, Isabel. Well done.

0:00:11 > 0:00:12Here they come.

0:00:12 > 0:00:14Shake it, baby, shake it.

0:00:14 > 0:00:16But there's one day each year...

0:00:16 > 0:00:17Come on, girl. Up you go.

0:00:17 > 0:00:19..when they get to leave the daily routine behind.

0:00:22 > 0:00:24These are show days...

0:00:24 > 0:00:26Welcome to the Pembrokeshire County show.

0:00:26 > 0:00:29..when they come together as a community...

0:00:29 > 0:00:31Salute.

0:00:31 > 0:00:33..to showcase the fruits of their labour...

0:00:33 > 0:00:34Had a quick look at the competition.

0:00:34 > 0:00:35I'm in with a chance.

0:00:36 > 0:00:40..and try to win prizes for their breed champions...

0:00:40 > 0:00:42Well done. Wahey!

0:00:42 > 0:00:44It's show business, folks.

0:00:44 > 0:00:45..and award-winning projects.

0:00:45 > 0:00:46I got first!

0:00:48 > 0:00:50Had the last two jars.

0:00:50 > 0:00:51There will be highs...

0:00:52 > 0:00:54Yes.

0:00:54 > 0:00:55..and lows...

0:00:55 > 0:00:57No, no, no no no.

0:00:57 > 0:01:02..for the dedicated farmers who give everything to walk away a champion.

0:01:03 > 0:01:04No way!

0:01:14 > 0:01:18On almost every farm in the country, there are unsung heroes...

0:01:18 > 0:01:21Good girlies. Come on. Push on. Push on.

0:01:21 > 0:01:23..workers who keep the machines running...

0:01:26 > 0:01:28..the animals nurtured,

0:01:28 > 0:01:29and the crops growing.

0:01:32 > 0:01:34The Farm Worker of the Year award recognises

0:01:34 > 0:01:38the industrious and innovative employees who put their talents

0:01:38 > 0:01:41and energy into the farms they work on.

0:01:41 > 0:01:44Can I ask all our finalists to stand up?

0:01:44 > 0:01:46CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

0:01:55 > 0:02:01This year's three finalists are Hugh Sapsed from Bedfordshire,

0:02:01 > 0:02:04Steph Adams from Cambridgeshire,

0:02:04 > 0:02:08and Gary Hawker from Dorset.

0:02:08 > 0:02:11This award will be recognition for the tireless graft

0:02:11 > 0:02:15that often makes them the linchpin of the business.

0:02:15 > 0:02:17Go on, girls. Come on, then.

0:02:17 > 0:02:18- HE WHISTLES - This way. Come on.

0:02:18 > 0:02:21Only one of them will walk away with the coveted title

0:02:21 > 0:02:26at the glittering ceremony taking place in just a few days' time.

0:02:26 > 0:02:31And the winner of the 2017 Farm Worker of the Year...

0:02:41 > 0:02:43For many people working in agriculture,

0:02:43 > 0:02:46farming is in their blood.

0:02:46 > 0:02:49But it is not always possible for them to farm their own land.

0:02:50 > 0:02:52In Pertenhall, Bedfordshire,

0:02:52 > 0:02:55Hugh Sapsed didn't let a small thing like that

0:02:55 > 0:02:57get in the way of doing a job he loves.

0:02:58 > 0:03:00My father, he farmed.

0:03:00 > 0:03:03Grandfather farmed.

0:03:03 > 0:03:06I suppose I am from the poor side of the family and, you know,

0:03:06 > 0:03:08some of us are workers.

0:03:08 > 0:03:11I left school on the Friday...

0:03:11 > 0:03:13..and started work on the Monday.

0:03:14 > 0:03:16Hugh has worked on other people's farms

0:03:16 > 0:03:18his entire life.

0:03:18 > 0:03:22And he has been at John Sheard farms for the last 14 years.

0:03:22 > 0:03:25We're a 2,500 acre farm,

0:03:25 > 0:03:29spread out probably over 16 miles,

0:03:29 > 0:03:31five, six farms.

0:03:37 > 0:03:41The six farms Hugh works across grow arable crops...

0:03:43 > 0:03:45..including oilseed rape,

0:03:45 > 0:03:46wheat,

0:03:46 > 0:03:48barley and oats.

0:03:48 > 0:03:51He also looks after all the buildings.

0:03:51 > 0:03:54There's a lot of work to be done, and it's varied, you know?

0:03:54 > 0:03:56When we're not doing this sort of stuff,

0:03:56 > 0:03:59the farming side of things, then, you know,

0:03:59 > 0:04:03we are doing general maintenance, estate maintenance,

0:04:03 > 0:04:05houses, buildings,

0:04:05 > 0:04:07hedges, roadways...

0:04:07 > 0:04:09So there's everything, all the time.

0:04:12 > 0:04:15I knew him as a friend before he came to work here,

0:04:15 > 0:04:17and knew he was the sort of guy

0:04:17 > 0:04:18we wanted to take on,

0:04:18 > 0:04:19knew his experience.

0:04:19 > 0:04:22As time's gone on, the sprayer driver left,

0:04:22 > 0:04:24so he went on the sprayer, the combine driver left,

0:04:24 > 0:04:25so he went on the combine.

0:04:25 > 0:04:27So he's adapted to the business,

0:04:27 > 0:04:29as the business has required somebody to adapt.

0:04:37 > 0:04:41The role of the farm worker has changed dramatically over the years.

0:04:41 > 0:04:45The rise of intensive methods and the use of specialist machinery

0:04:45 > 0:04:49mean that employees have to constantly learn new skills.

0:04:50 > 0:04:53To be on a farm this size, 30 years ago,

0:04:53 > 0:04:56there probably would have been 40 people.

0:04:56 > 0:04:58And they used casual labour.

0:04:59 > 0:05:02And that has all gone, and now there's the three of us.

0:05:03 > 0:05:05- So what's happened, then? - Broke the PTO shaft.

0:05:05 > 0:05:08- OK.- Just worn...worn through?

0:05:08 > 0:05:09Yeah, worn out.

0:05:09 > 0:05:12In terms of the physicality of the job, it's reduced quite a lot.

0:05:12 > 0:05:14Over the last 15 years, the amount of technical stuff

0:05:14 > 0:05:16and technical things they have to deal with

0:05:16 > 0:05:18has increased dramatically,

0:05:18 > 0:05:20and that just goes on and on and on and on and on.

0:05:20 > 0:05:21Things get bigger and faster.

0:05:21 > 0:05:23And that's the way farming's going.

0:05:23 > 0:05:26But if you haven't got the staff to cope with these things,

0:05:26 > 0:05:28then you're going to get left behind.

0:05:28 > 0:05:31Like anybody in my game,

0:05:31 > 0:05:32we're jack of all trades.

0:05:32 > 0:05:35So we can be electricians, we can be plasterers,

0:05:35 > 0:05:37we can be painters, decorators...

0:05:37 > 0:05:38Anything.

0:05:39 > 0:05:41It's not like a 9-5 office job,

0:05:41 > 0:05:44where everything is the same old thing.

0:05:44 > 0:05:47Pushing a pen round a bit of paper would drive me insane.

0:05:48 > 0:05:52Hugh's restless energy is a boon for the farm,

0:05:52 > 0:05:55perhaps less so for wife Cathy.

0:05:55 > 0:05:57He never sits still. He drives me round the bend.

0:05:57 > 0:05:59He cannot relax.

0:05:59 > 0:06:01He has to do things.

0:06:01 > 0:06:05He sometimes repairs things on the village playing field,

0:06:05 > 0:06:06the equipment.

0:06:06 > 0:06:09If anybody needs a hand with something, he'll do it.

0:06:09 > 0:06:12He's very conscientious.

0:06:12 > 0:06:13Very conscientious.

0:06:13 > 0:06:18The couple have been married for 30 years, after an unpromising start.

0:06:18 > 0:06:21We met through Young Farmers,

0:06:21 > 0:06:24which is, today, probably would be Tinder.

0:06:26 > 0:06:29A couple of my friends who I worked with, they went to Young Farmers,

0:06:29 > 0:06:32persuaded me to go there, and that's how we met.

0:06:32 > 0:06:35And even she'll say, we didn't get on at the start.

0:06:35 > 0:06:37He was really boring, actually, to start with.

0:06:37 > 0:06:39Because it was just farming.

0:06:39 > 0:06:40You'd go out and he would be with friends

0:06:40 > 0:06:42and they would just talk about farming.

0:06:45 > 0:06:48But Hugh managed to keep Cathy interested long enough

0:06:48 > 0:06:50to capture her heart,

0:06:50 > 0:06:53and five years later, Freddie was born.

0:06:53 > 0:06:55Followed by Iona,

0:06:55 > 0:06:58who is in her last year of agricultural college.

0:06:59 > 0:07:02When he used to work on the other farm, he used to work all day,

0:07:02 > 0:07:03all night, when it was harvest.

0:07:03 > 0:07:07He's always dedicated to working hard,

0:07:07 > 0:07:09and he does a lot for the business.

0:07:09 > 0:07:12Like, you should have seen it, building things...

0:07:15 > 0:07:17Unless I went on the combine with him, I didn't really see him much.

0:07:17 > 0:07:20No, it was just...tea times, when Mum used to bring the tea out,

0:07:20 > 0:07:22and then we'd have time together.

0:07:22 > 0:07:24- Yeah.- And that's sort of precious time, isn't it,

0:07:24 > 0:07:27because you were growing up and we didn't get that time...?

0:07:27 > 0:07:30- Back then.- Yeah. - So I would only spend like

0:07:30 > 0:07:32the evenings with him, like an hour or so on the combine.

0:07:32 > 0:07:34Normally me, like, falling asleep.

0:07:35 > 0:07:38His job is very important to him,

0:07:38 > 0:07:39and if he is ploughing,

0:07:40 > 0:07:42it has to be in a dead straight line.

0:07:42 > 0:07:45If he's combining, it has to be the best cut that he can do

0:07:45 > 0:07:47with the least wastage.

0:07:47 > 0:07:49It's...

0:07:49 > 0:07:51He is not a perfectionist at home, at all,

0:07:51 > 0:07:53but he is when he's at work.

0:07:57 > 0:07:59On any given day,

0:07:59 > 0:08:01Hugh could be maintaining machinery,

0:08:01 > 0:08:03working on one of the farm buildings,

0:08:03 > 0:08:06or spraying or harvesting the crops,

0:08:06 > 0:08:08until late into the evening.

0:08:08 > 0:08:12So it's a mystery how he has also managed to fit in 12 years

0:08:12 > 0:08:14in the local Fire Service.

0:08:14 > 0:08:17I would have been in my, like, early teens.

0:08:17 > 0:08:20He used to work all day and then he might get called out

0:08:20 > 0:08:23at like one o'clock in the morning and then go do a fire...

0:08:23 > 0:08:25Three or four hours, and come back.

0:08:25 > 0:08:28..and then come back and then work on the farm all day.

0:08:28 > 0:08:31But it is that thing of giving it back to the community, wasn't it?

0:08:31 > 0:08:33- Yeah.- I've lived here all my life,

0:08:33 > 0:08:37- and therefore, I could give my bit back.- Back, yeah, exactly.

0:08:37 > 0:08:38- And it was just nice. - It was long hours.

0:08:38 > 0:08:40- Very long hours. - It was long hours.

0:08:46 > 0:08:50What has propelled Hugh into the final three for this year's award

0:08:50 > 0:08:55is the way he has worked to save the farm time and money.

0:08:55 > 0:08:58We've made gateways and bridges into the fields bigger

0:08:58 > 0:09:02so that instead of... Like, this morning, you saw the sprayer,

0:09:02 > 0:09:05so instead of having to fold that up every time and go through,

0:09:05 > 0:09:06we can go straight through,

0:09:06 > 0:09:09so therefore you're gaining time.

0:09:09 > 0:09:14All in all, Hugh has managed to save the farm 50 working days a year.

0:09:16 > 0:09:19The time in farming where you can actually go and be at maximum output

0:09:19 > 0:09:20is very limited, these days,

0:09:20 > 0:09:23so if you get an extra half an hour or an extra hour at any point

0:09:23 > 0:09:25in the day, they soon add up to a good period over the week

0:09:25 > 0:09:28and over the whole year they do add up to a significant amount of time.

0:09:28 > 0:09:32But Hugh's motivation is not just about the farm work.

0:09:33 > 0:09:36In the early years, I was working a lot of hours,

0:09:36 > 0:09:39and I probably, like a few of my friends,

0:09:39 > 0:09:41missed my children growing up.

0:09:43 > 0:09:47So now I'm probably making up for that, by the hours we've saved now,

0:09:47 > 0:09:49we spend with the kids.

0:09:49 > 0:09:52I think the older you get, you appreciate life more,

0:09:52 > 0:09:54and your work-life balance is very important.

0:09:55 > 0:09:57We are only here once,

0:09:57 > 0:09:58you have to make the most of it.

0:10:02 > 0:10:05And ever community-spirited,

0:10:05 > 0:10:08he has also managed to find time to trounce the village

0:10:08 > 0:10:11- with a new hobby. - Is this a winner?

0:10:12 > 0:10:14- It's good.- The fruit's good.

0:10:15 > 0:10:18With our village, we have a harvest festival

0:10:18 > 0:10:21and we have a "Man's Cake",

0:10:21 > 0:10:23which is quite competitive.

0:10:24 > 0:10:28And about two years ago, I won that for the first time.

0:10:28 > 0:10:30I had entered it for about nine years,

0:10:30 > 0:10:32and two years ago managed to get that,

0:10:32 > 0:10:34and, ironically, will be known for that.

0:10:44 > 0:10:47With so much to offer the farm, and the community,

0:10:47 > 0:10:49it should come as no surprise

0:10:49 > 0:10:53that Hugh was nominated for the Farm Worker of the Year award.

0:10:53 > 0:10:56There are a lot of people throughout the whole of the UK

0:10:56 > 0:10:59who are really good farm workers, very, very dedicated people.

0:10:59 > 0:11:02And I'm sure most of them will be worthy of going forward

0:11:02 > 0:11:04into Farm Worker of the Year if they were given the opportunity.

0:11:06 > 0:11:07Famous last words.

0:11:08 > 0:11:10So if you did win,

0:11:10 > 0:11:13what should we do the next day to celebrate?

0:11:13 > 0:11:14We could go to a show.

0:11:15 > 0:11:18We could stay in London an extra night, we could go to see Evita.

0:11:18 > 0:11:21- Are you doing this cos it is on camera?- Yeah.

0:11:21 > 0:11:23LAUGHTER

0:11:24 > 0:11:26Course I'm proud, yeah!

0:11:26 > 0:11:27Yeah, he deserves it.

0:11:28 > 0:11:30Farming's in his blood.

0:11:30 > 0:11:31He has always enjoyed it,

0:11:31 > 0:11:33he's always been interested.

0:11:33 > 0:11:37It is more than just a job, it's a lifestyle, really.

0:11:37 > 0:11:39And he does everything that he can on the farm

0:11:39 > 0:11:40to the best of his ability.

0:11:40 > 0:11:44To go as the farm group and as a family,

0:11:44 > 0:11:47yeah, that will be very exciting.

0:11:47 > 0:11:49And to go to somewhere...

0:11:49 > 0:11:51the biggest event in the farming calendar, probably,

0:11:51 > 0:11:53will be very, very exciting.

0:11:53 > 0:11:55I think it's absolutely brilliant for him.

0:11:55 > 0:11:57I just hope he goes on and wins it.

0:11:57 > 0:11:58Hopefully, I'll get a modelling contract.

0:11:58 > 0:12:01That's what he thinks, he's going to get a modelling contract.

0:12:01 > 0:12:02On the tractors, posing.

0:12:02 > 0:12:04You can't do that, you're too old!

0:12:04 > 0:12:05Can I win it?

0:12:05 > 0:12:08You don't go to come second.

0:12:08 > 0:12:09Erm...

0:12:09 > 0:12:10Who knows?

0:12:25 > 0:12:29Just 21 miles away, in Caxton, Cambridgeshire,

0:12:29 > 0:12:32lives our next Farm Worker of the Year nominee.

0:12:37 > 0:12:43Steph Adams has worked on Firs Farm almost his entire working life.

0:12:43 > 0:12:44I was born into farming.

0:12:47 > 0:12:49Dad's farmed, his father farmed.

0:12:50 > 0:12:52There wasn't enough work at home on the farm, so...

0:12:54 > 0:12:55..that's why I'm here!

0:12:56 > 0:12:58It is my life, here.

0:12:58 > 0:13:00I step out my front door, and I'm at work.

0:13:01 > 0:13:04I don't know what else I could do, I just love being here.

0:13:04 > 0:13:06His boss is John Millard,

0:13:06 > 0:13:10whose family have owned this farm for 50 years.

0:13:10 > 0:13:13Steph's been with us for about 37 years.

0:13:13 > 0:13:16He was brought up on his parents' farm.

0:13:16 > 0:13:19And then had a job for about a year on another farm,

0:13:19 > 0:13:20then came to us.

0:13:20 > 0:13:24I can't remember the year he joined us, but he was about 18 years old.

0:13:34 > 0:13:36Firs Farm spans 70 acres,

0:13:36 > 0:13:40with arable crops including wheat and grass,

0:13:40 > 0:13:41and a herd of cattle.

0:13:44 > 0:13:46Steph works both.

0:13:48 > 0:13:51I suppose I'm jack of all trades and master of none, really.

0:13:52 > 0:13:55I've got one of two certificates to prove I can do some work, but...

0:13:56 > 0:13:58..I don't think there's anything

0:13:58 > 0:14:01I don't like doing on the farm, really. Just accept the bad ones

0:14:01 > 0:14:03and just get on and do them and go home when it's done.

0:14:04 > 0:14:07It's lunchtime, and Steph is checking up on the cows.

0:14:09 > 0:14:10If I try and touch her, she'll knock me over.

0:14:12 > 0:14:13I'm not going near her.

0:14:13 > 0:14:15She'll put her head down, I should think.

0:14:15 > 0:14:17Or back away. Most of these are bred...

0:14:17 > 0:14:18You know,

0:14:18 > 0:14:20have been born on the farm.

0:14:20 > 0:14:21Haven't you? Eh?

0:14:21 > 0:14:24A lot of these cows I pulled out of their mothers, you know?

0:14:25 > 0:14:28He has a special affinity with the animals,

0:14:28 > 0:14:30though there has been the odd occasion

0:14:30 > 0:14:34where his Dr Dolittle magic doesn't quite work.

0:14:35 > 0:14:37This one here, when she had her first calf...

0:14:39 > 0:14:41..I pulled the calf out of her.

0:14:42 > 0:14:45And it was doing all right and I went and had my breakfast

0:14:45 > 0:14:47and came back out, I went in to put the tag

0:14:47 > 0:14:50in the calf's ear, and she chased me across the yard,

0:14:50 > 0:14:53and I went straight over the wall to get away from her.

0:14:53 > 0:14:55I trusted her too much.

0:14:57 > 0:14:59Didn't I? Eh?

0:15:02 > 0:15:06There's never time to linger long on one job.

0:15:06 > 0:15:09And when Steph is not being the cow whisperer,

0:15:09 > 0:15:12he puts a completely different set of skills to work.

0:15:14 > 0:15:17A brilliant inventor and mechanic,

0:15:17 > 0:15:20Steph has saved the farm thousands of pounds

0:15:20 > 0:15:23by adapting equipment to make it more efficient,

0:15:23 > 0:15:27meaning the farm does not have to invest in new.

0:15:27 > 0:15:28Always something to do.

0:15:28 > 0:15:31Never have to look far to find something to do.

0:15:31 > 0:15:36I've modified and built different parts of machinery.

0:15:36 > 0:15:37Tried to make them run better.

0:15:46 > 0:15:48A 40-foot trailer,

0:15:48 > 0:15:51replacement axles on a 20-tonne manure truck,

0:15:51 > 0:15:57and a telescopic ram for moving hay are just a few of his creations.

0:15:57 > 0:16:00I think to work with Steph, starting in this trade,

0:16:00 > 0:16:02was the best thing that could have happened, you know?

0:16:02 > 0:16:06Just from farming in general with cattle or pigs, things like that,

0:16:06 > 0:16:08to tractors, mechanics...

0:16:08 > 0:16:11And he has taught me things I didn't even know, so...he's really good.

0:16:11 > 0:16:14He is probably the best mentor that anybody could have.

0:16:17 > 0:16:18He sets the standard high, you know.

0:16:18 > 0:16:21I'm a young guy, I thought that I could do the big hours,

0:16:21 > 0:16:24but he has definitely put me to my paces.

0:16:33 > 0:16:34His piece de la resistance...

0:16:37 > 0:16:40..is making a unique attachment for moving hay.

0:16:41 > 0:16:42The initial thing was...

0:16:45 > 0:16:47We can't go down the road with this sticking out the front,

0:16:47 > 0:16:49obviously, so I designed it so...

0:16:51 > 0:16:54..when we go down the road, we just hook the tines up.

0:16:54 > 0:16:56I see a bit of kit and I think, well, how can I improve on that?

0:16:56 > 0:16:58And when you sit there all day just looking at it,

0:16:58 > 0:17:01you keep thinking all these things all the time.

0:17:03 > 0:17:06Steph's customised forklift truck

0:17:06 > 0:17:09can carry twice as much hay as a normal one,

0:17:09 > 0:17:12which halves the time he takes to do the job.

0:17:17 > 0:17:19And he's already quicker than most.

0:17:20 > 0:17:22I sit and watch this one, I keep thinking, well,

0:17:22 > 0:17:24if I put some hydraulic rams in the middle,

0:17:24 > 0:17:26I can make it telescopic up for different-sized bales.

0:17:26 > 0:17:31That might be the next project, if I went any further with this one.

0:17:31 > 0:17:33It is all designed in my head,

0:17:33 > 0:17:35how to make this extendable.

0:17:35 > 0:17:37There is not such a thing as a problem.

0:17:38 > 0:17:42It's just how we get round it, and solve it.

0:17:42 > 0:17:46Yeah.

0:17:46 > 0:17:50Steph, with his innovative ability

0:17:50 > 0:17:54to repair machinery and equipment,

0:17:54 > 0:17:58has saved us probably £60,000 over the years.

0:17:59 > 0:18:00Maybe more. Maybe more.

0:18:05 > 0:18:08Although his colleagues sing his praises,

0:18:08 > 0:18:11Steph is reluctant to blow his own trumpet.

0:18:12 > 0:18:16I suppose my role in the farm is almost jack of all trades.

0:18:16 > 0:18:19I don't think there's anything that really stands out.

0:18:20 > 0:18:24I like it when I go home at night and I've made something,

0:18:24 > 0:18:26and I think "I've actually done something today."

0:18:26 > 0:18:28It is when I get home and think,

0:18:28 > 0:18:29"Well, I haven't done anything today,"

0:18:29 > 0:18:31but I've been up here all day,

0:18:31 > 0:18:32and I don't like that.

0:18:32 > 0:18:34I like to feel like I have done something.

0:18:38 > 0:18:42He's very, very comfortable with animals,

0:18:42 > 0:18:47which shows a side of him that is...

0:18:47 > 0:18:51..I would say, a very humane side.

0:18:51 > 0:18:54He's a man of few words but he's very, very down to earth.

0:18:54 > 0:18:57You know, he's very easy to come across.

0:18:57 > 0:19:00Teaching, he's very easy to understand.

0:19:00 > 0:19:01He's incredibly humble.

0:19:02 > 0:19:04He'd never sing his own praises.

0:19:04 > 0:19:06He's got a sense of humour.

0:19:06 > 0:19:10I don't think I have ever seen the man lose his temper at all

0:19:10 > 0:19:12in all the time I've known him.

0:19:14 > 0:19:18Wanting him to get the recognition he so well deserves,

0:19:18 > 0:19:22John nominated Steph for this year's Farm Worker Award.

0:19:22 > 0:19:24He is certainly not a jack of all trades,

0:19:24 > 0:19:26he's just a master of all trades.

0:19:26 > 0:19:28He's far superior to that.

0:19:28 > 0:19:30Steph is invaluable,

0:19:30 > 0:19:34and I think we're very lucky with the staff we've got,

0:19:34 > 0:19:37but I nominated him because I feel he deserves it,

0:19:37 > 0:19:40for what he's contributed to this business.

0:19:47 > 0:19:50You get a lot of people who are specialists either

0:19:50 > 0:19:52in tractor driving and machinery,

0:19:52 > 0:19:54or people who are specialists in livestock.

0:19:54 > 0:19:58You don't get many people who can specialise

0:19:58 > 0:20:02in all the different aspects of a mixed farm like this.

0:20:08 > 0:20:11When John got nominated me for the award, I wasn't...

0:20:11 > 0:20:12I don't think I was over-keen.

0:20:13 > 0:20:16And I thought, it'll be all right, cos it won't come to anything...

0:20:18 > 0:20:19..and it has done.

0:20:19 > 0:20:21If Steph wins...

0:20:22 > 0:20:24..it'll be absolutely fantastic,

0:20:24 > 0:20:26and well-deserved,

0:20:26 > 0:20:29for everything he's done for this farm,

0:20:29 > 0:20:30and agriculture in general.

0:20:43 > 0:20:45170 miles south,

0:20:45 > 0:20:48in the pretty Dorset countryside,

0:20:48 > 0:20:49is Clandon Farm,

0:20:49 > 0:20:53where the last of this year's nominees lives and works.

0:20:57 > 0:21:01Gary Hawker has been a herdsman on this 730-acre dairy farm

0:21:01 > 0:21:04for over 20 years.

0:21:04 > 0:21:06I'm the fourth-generation herdsman.

0:21:06 > 0:21:10My great-grandfather started us off on this path many, many moons ago.

0:21:13 > 0:21:15That's it, girl. Come on.

0:21:15 > 0:21:16HE WHISTLES

0:21:16 > 0:21:18Good girlies. Push on it, push on it.

0:21:18 > 0:21:19Push on it.

0:21:19 > 0:21:24Every day, Gary is up at 5am to prepare for the morning's milking.

0:21:27 > 0:21:30With 434 cows to milk,

0:21:30 > 0:21:34and another 250 calves and bulls to keep an eye on,

0:21:34 > 0:21:36even by farming standards,

0:21:36 > 0:21:38Gary has a lot on his plate.

0:21:40 > 0:21:41Farming is very hard work.

0:21:41 > 0:21:43It takes a lot of our time up,

0:21:43 > 0:21:46and I think you have to be sort of passionate

0:21:46 > 0:21:49to...make it work for yourself.

0:21:49 > 0:21:51I really enjoy what I do...

0:21:51 > 0:21:53especially getting covered in that every day!

0:21:56 > 0:21:58You know, it's a way of life, but it's something that I enjoy,

0:21:58 > 0:22:00I'm quite passionate about,

0:22:00 > 0:22:02so, yeah, so I enjoy it immensely.

0:22:09 > 0:22:10Ready?

0:22:11 > 0:22:13Oh, look at that!

0:22:13 > 0:22:16Gary's partner, Australian-born Kimeree,

0:22:16 > 0:22:18never imagined she would end up

0:22:18 > 0:22:20being a farmer's other half in Dorset.

0:22:20 > 0:22:24I'm...sort of from the suburbs, in Sydney.

0:22:24 > 0:22:27Yeah, no, so this was a big change for me,

0:22:27 > 0:22:29to have met a farmer, and think,

0:22:29 > 0:22:32"Oh, wow! My life's going to change big-time,"

0:22:32 > 0:22:33so yes, yeah.

0:22:34 > 0:22:37The couple have a six-year-old son, Max,

0:22:37 > 0:22:40and Kimeree often has to juggle running the home

0:22:40 > 0:22:42and the job as a preschool teacher.

0:22:44 > 0:22:45It's tough, it's hard.

0:22:45 > 0:22:49You know, especially, now, with having Max with us...

0:22:50 > 0:22:53..you know, trying to sort of balance the life and the farm

0:22:53 > 0:22:55is really difficult.

0:22:56 > 0:23:00Gary's heart is here. He enjoys his work.

0:23:00 > 0:23:01We can go days before we'll see him.

0:23:03 > 0:23:05But Gary's working on it.

0:23:09 > 0:23:11Come on!

0:23:11 > 0:23:12HE WHISTLES

0:23:12 > 0:23:15Come on, darling. Come on.

0:23:15 > 0:23:18These are tough times for dairy farmers.

0:23:18 > 0:23:20Margins are always tight.

0:23:24 > 0:23:27The only way to survive is to diversify,

0:23:27 > 0:23:30or to become even more efficient than before.

0:23:30 > 0:23:35Under Gary's stewardship, this farm has done the latter.

0:23:35 > 0:23:38When I first came here, we had two dairies,

0:23:38 > 0:23:40one all-year round calving,

0:23:40 > 0:23:42one was autumn calving,

0:23:42 > 0:23:44and now we've amalgamated them into one,

0:23:44 > 0:23:46so yeah, the farm's definitely changed over the 20 years

0:23:46 > 0:23:50I've been here, and now we're on once-a-day milking,

0:23:50 > 0:23:53so we've completely sort of flipped from 20 years ago.

0:24:01 > 0:24:05Most dairy farms in the UK milk their cows twice a day

0:24:05 > 0:24:07to get the highest yield possible,

0:24:07 > 0:24:11which can mean extra labour and energy costs.

0:24:11 > 0:24:14Part of going once-a-day was to see if we could get away with

0:24:14 > 0:24:16perhaps three people working on the farm and see,

0:24:16 > 0:24:19you know, see where we can push the farm,

0:24:19 > 0:24:21as in cutting costs as well as, you know,

0:24:21 > 0:24:23trying to do a good quality job at the same time.

0:24:27 > 0:24:30The experiment was a success.

0:24:30 > 0:24:32Although the yield dipped slightly,

0:24:32 > 0:24:36the benefits to going once-a-day were a much richer milk.

0:24:36 > 0:24:38With the once-a-day, we get better butterfat and protein,

0:24:38 > 0:24:42which hopefully, will boost up our pence per litre,

0:24:42 > 0:24:45so it doesn't cost us as much to make,

0:24:45 > 0:24:47as perhaps a conventional system.

0:24:49 > 0:24:51With this superior milk,

0:24:51 > 0:24:55Gary had opened up the opportunity to supply a higher-paying customer.

0:24:56 > 0:24:59We supply our milk to an award-winning cheese company,

0:24:59 > 0:25:03so it is paramount that we produce a high butterfat

0:25:03 > 0:25:05and high protein quality milk.

0:25:06 > 0:25:09That's some of the reason for the milk recording,

0:25:09 > 0:25:12is to make sure that we're producing a good,

0:25:12 > 0:25:15clean, high quality milk produce for them to make cheese.

0:25:22 > 0:25:24Always keen to push innovation,

0:25:24 > 0:25:27Gary had a plan to feed the cows with more of

0:25:27 > 0:25:31the most natural, abundant crop farm had to offer.

0:25:31 > 0:25:36We're basically trying to time the calving block to make the most of,

0:25:36 > 0:25:37make the most use of grass.

0:25:37 > 0:25:39We're just trying to feed as much of this,

0:25:39 > 0:25:41cos it's a much cheaper form of feed for them,

0:25:41 > 0:25:43so we've always got grass in front of the cows.

0:25:45 > 0:25:49Grazing outside for ten months of the year is not for all cows.

0:25:49 > 0:25:51Well, we started off with a predominantly

0:25:51 > 0:25:53British Friesian type cow,

0:25:53 > 0:25:54probably about 18 years ago,

0:25:54 > 0:25:58and then, we've crossbred them with Jersey

0:25:58 > 0:26:01and New Zealand cross type Friesian bulls,

0:26:01 > 0:26:05so what we're trying to look for is a small statured animal,

0:26:05 > 0:26:09that can basically cope with outdoor life, really.

0:26:09 > 0:26:12These ones, they do really well on a grazing system

0:26:12 > 0:26:14so they'll put their heads down and start grazing this grass,

0:26:14 > 0:26:17and start turning it into a high butterfat and protein milk.

0:26:22 > 0:26:24Thanks to Gary's changes,

0:26:24 > 0:26:28the farm is selling its higher quality milk for more money,

0:26:28 > 0:26:30running more efficiently,

0:26:30 > 0:26:33and now he has more free time for his family...

0:26:33 > 0:26:35..in theory.

0:26:36 > 0:26:38He came home and tried to sell me this new system

0:26:38 > 0:26:41that they have introduced now, once-a-day milking,

0:26:41 > 0:26:43and sold it to me by saying,

0:26:43 > 0:26:46it's supposed to support our work-life balance.

0:26:46 > 0:26:50Yes, I shall be home at a particular time every day, and be there, and...

0:26:51 > 0:26:54And so I waited for that time to come along, and I wait, and I wait.

0:26:54 > 0:26:56It's not meeting the goals!

0:26:57 > 0:27:01It seems once a farmer, always a farmer!

0:27:02 > 0:27:05He can't walk away from that and just go, "I need to go home."

0:27:05 > 0:27:08He'll just always find something else to do and, you know,

0:27:08 > 0:27:11there might be something that needs cleaning,

0:27:11 > 0:27:14or there might be a cow that's, you know, ill or lame,

0:27:14 > 0:27:17and he'll just stay with them until the vet gets there,

0:27:17 > 0:27:20so, there's a slight difference, but...

0:27:21 > 0:27:22..not 100%, I have to say,

0:27:22 > 0:27:24but I think it's going to take time.

0:27:30 > 0:27:34Gary's dedication to the farm has not gone unnoticed.

0:27:34 > 0:27:36Gary's one of life's nice guys.

0:27:36 > 0:27:38He's one of life's guys where there's always a smile on the face.

0:27:38 > 0:27:40Yeah, he's always got time for people,

0:27:40 > 0:27:42and a very hard-working person as well,

0:27:42 > 0:27:43who takes his job seriously,

0:27:43 > 0:27:45and does a very good job.

0:27:45 > 0:27:46Come on, girls. Come on, then!

0:27:46 > 0:27:48- WHISTLING - This way, come on.

0:27:48 > 0:27:51You know, he treats the cows here as kind of part of the family, really,

0:27:51 > 0:27:54and he does what he can to make sure that he gets things right.

0:27:55 > 0:27:59Farm vet Andrew has worked with Gary for 20 years,

0:27:59 > 0:28:02and was responsible for nominating him for

0:28:02 > 0:28:03the Farm Worker of the Year award.

0:28:05 > 0:28:06You know, he needs a reward for what he does.

0:28:06 > 0:28:10Day in, day out, he's doing this, and he doesn't ask for any reward,

0:28:10 > 0:28:12but you kind of think, sometimes, some of these people are

0:28:12 > 0:28:15the ones that need a little bit of recognition.

0:28:23 > 0:28:24There's a lot of good farmers out there,

0:28:24 > 0:28:26so I'm very honoured to think

0:28:26 > 0:28:29that I'm amongst a lot of very good operators in dairying.

0:28:29 > 0:28:31Then I realised how big the awards were...

0:28:31 > 0:28:34and then I realised what I'd sort of let myself in for, but like I said,

0:28:34 > 0:28:37it's been a good process to go through.

0:28:37 > 0:28:39I haven't stopped smiling for him.

0:28:39 > 0:28:42He's a really understated chap,

0:28:42 > 0:28:45and he never blows his own trumpet,

0:28:45 > 0:28:46so I'm just...

0:28:47 > 0:28:50I'm proud and excited for him.

0:28:50 > 0:28:52Lose the overalls, put a dickie bow on,

0:28:52 > 0:28:53for the first time ever.

0:28:53 > 0:28:56It'll be a roomful of uncomfortable farmers, I would imagine,

0:28:56 > 0:28:59used to wearing boiler suits and T-shirts more so than that!

0:29:14 > 0:29:16These three hard-working men

0:29:16 > 0:29:19have committed themselves without reservation

0:29:19 > 0:29:21to the farms in which they work.

0:29:25 > 0:29:28Their strong work ethic, and innovation,

0:29:28 > 0:29:31has been key to the success of these farms.

0:29:33 > 0:29:36And tomorrow night, at the Farmers Weekly awards,

0:29:36 > 0:29:39one of them will walk away with this year's title

0:29:39 > 0:29:41of Farm Worker of the Year.

0:29:57 > 0:30:01The 13th annual Farmers Weekly awards are being held

0:30:01 > 0:30:03in the heart of London's Mayfair.

0:30:05 > 0:30:11Tonight, this prestigious event will bring together over 500 farmers

0:30:11 > 0:30:13and their families from all over the UK...

0:30:15 > 0:30:19..coming together to celebrate the industry's greatest success stories.

0:30:21 > 0:30:24As the finishing touches are made to the Great Banqueting Hall,

0:30:24 > 0:30:27a night of glitz and glamour beckons.

0:30:28 > 0:30:30This is the biggest night in the farming calendar.

0:30:30 > 0:30:32These are the Oscars of farming,

0:30:32 > 0:30:33so it's a huge deal.

0:30:33 > 0:30:37Winning one of these awards is a fantastic achievement for a farmer.

0:30:37 > 0:30:39They really value it, and if you're in any doubt,

0:30:39 > 0:30:41just look at their reaction when they win the awards.

0:30:54 > 0:30:59Gary and his partner Kimeree have been together for 15 years,

0:30:59 > 0:31:02but this is their first-ever black tie event together.

0:31:03 > 0:31:05- Look presentable? - LAUGHTER

0:31:05 > 0:31:07- I don't know! - I know, that's what I mean!

0:31:10 > 0:31:14It's very rare that we get dressed up like we are now.

0:31:14 > 0:31:15We didn't have these in the cupboard!

0:31:15 > 0:31:20No, no. No, they had to be purchased especially for this evening, so...

0:31:20 > 0:31:23- Yeah.- So, yeah. So it's a far cry from what we're used to back home.

0:31:23 > 0:31:25Jeans, welly boots and big baggy jumpers!

0:31:25 > 0:31:26Yeah!

0:31:27 > 0:31:30Not everyone is that excited about getting dressed up.

0:31:30 > 0:31:32I think I'd rather be sat in my tractor!

0:31:33 > 0:31:35Messing around with this tie!

0:31:36 > 0:31:38More at home in his workshop,

0:31:38 > 0:31:41Steph is trying to adjust to being in the spotlight.

0:31:42 > 0:31:43I'm pleased to be here.

0:31:43 > 0:31:46Pleased that I was nominated to be here.

0:31:49 > 0:31:52But I shall just take it all as it comes, and see what happens!

0:31:59 > 0:32:02Also ditching their boiler suits and wellies,

0:32:02 > 0:32:06arable farm worker Hugh, his family, and work friends

0:32:06 > 0:32:08are already making a night of it.

0:32:09 > 0:32:11- Cheers, everybody!- To Hugh!

0:32:11 > 0:32:12Cheers!

0:32:13 > 0:32:17I wasn't nervous but I am a little bit, now, cos it's real.

0:32:17 > 0:32:19We're here, and the buzz of it all...

0:32:19 > 0:32:21but we're here to have a good time whatever.

0:32:21 > 0:32:23And it's exciting coming to London,

0:32:23 > 0:32:25because we live in the country,

0:32:25 > 0:32:28and you don't get this buzz so you just make the most of it.

0:32:28 > 0:32:30Who doesn't like to get dressed up?

0:32:30 > 0:32:33I wouldn't like to do it every day, but it's good to do it...

0:32:33 > 0:32:35Oh, I don't know. I could get used to it!

0:32:40 > 0:32:43With such high-calibre entries,

0:32:43 > 0:32:47this year's judges have had a tough job deciding on a winner.

0:32:47 > 0:32:50We're looking for standout people,

0:32:50 > 0:32:52people who are totally reliable,

0:32:52 > 0:32:54who have gone that extra mile.

0:32:54 > 0:32:58I think all three of the finalists tonight,

0:32:58 > 0:33:01they should all be really proud of themselves.

0:33:01 > 0:33:07Each of our nominees deserves their place on this year's shortlist.

0:33:07 > 0:33:09Steph Adams, we went to his farm,

0:33:09 > 0:33:12you could tell that the owner was so proud of him

0:33:12 > 0:33:14and he had nominated him.

0:33:14 > 0:33:17He could lay his hand to anything.

0:33:17 > 0:33:23Baler man, forager, straw loader...

0:33:23 > 0:33:25You could see it all round the farm,

0:33:25 > 0:33:27and everybody we spoke to was just going,

0:33:27 > 0:33:30this chap is the best at doing all these jobs.

0:33:31 > 0:33:36Hugh Sapsed, really good candidate.

0:33:36 > 0:33:40Again, the owner had great admiration for him.

0:33:40 > 0:33:43He was a great member of the team.

0:33:43 > 0:33:46Some of the building work he'd done on the farm

0:33:46 > 0:33:48was of the highest order.

0:33:48 > 0:33:50It was really impressive.

0:33:51 > 0:33:55Gary Hawker was a standout man with his livestock.

0:33:55 > 0:34:00You could see his passion for farming, and his livestock.

0:34:00 > 0:34:04He's now looking after a big dairy herd,

0:34:04 > 0:34:08single day milking, and that takes a lot of management, that does,

0:34:08 > 0:34:10and by goodness, he really did stand out.

0:34:10 > 0:34:11He really knew his stuff.

0:34:21 > 0:34:25Any discomfort at being in their smart clothes soon disappears,

0:34:25 > 0:34:27as the night gets under way.

0:34:30 > 0:34:32This is amazing!

0:34:32 > 0:34:37And Gary's met a long-lost friend, who he grew up with 30 years ago,

0:34:37 > 0:34:40so it's amazing, absolutely.

0:34:40 > 0:34:42Yeah!

0:34:42 > 0:34:44We're looking to have a really good, fun night tonight,

0:34:44 > 0:34:46and that's the most important thing, actually,

0:34:46 > 0:34:48that the people here enjoy themselves.

0:34:48 > 0:34:49This is a very different environment

0:34:49 > 0:34:51from the one they spend their day-to-day life in.

0:34:51 > 0:34:52This is a big night out for them,

0:34:52 > 0:34:55and I want to make sure they have a really good time.

0:34:55 > 0:34:57It's such a great atmosphere. We're having such a good time that...

0:34:57 > 0:35:00..anything could happen, and if he wins, that's great.

0:35:00 > 0:35:03If he doesn't, it's still going to be amazing.

0:35:12 > 0:35:14As the guests take their seats...

0:35:14 > 0:35:16Am I there?

0:35:16 > 0:35:18..it's time to settle in,

0:35:18 > 0:35:20and relish making it this far.

0:35:21 > 0:35:24Can we have the lights up, please?

0:35:24 > 0:35:26And can I ask all our finalists to stand up?

0:35:26 > 0:35:28CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

0:35:43 > 0:35:46If Steph won, I'd be delighted, because of all his skills,

0:35:46 > 0:35:50just a master of everything, really, whether it's livestock, machinery,

0:35:50 > 0:35:53or every aspect of farming.

0:35:53 > 0:35:56Very thorough, very honest, as well as all his skills.

0:35:57 > 0:35:59This morning, we were sort of waiting at home

0:35:59 > 0:36:01and then there's the journey up here.

0:36:01 > 0:36:04At least now we're here, so yeah, it's become a lot more real now.

0:36:04 > 0:36:05So...it's good!

0:36:10 > 0:36:13These hard-working men and women can enjoy

0:36:13 > 0:36:15being looked after by someone else for a change.

0:36:27 > 0:36:30There's just time before the ceremony begins

0:36:30 > 0:36:33to suss out the competition,

0:36:33 > 0:36:35as the three nominees find each other.

0:36:36 > 0:36:38You're dairy, I'm arable, and you're...

0:36:38 > 0:36:40- You're a bit mixed, aren't you? - You're a bit mixed.

0:36:40 > 0:36:42- A bit of everything. - So it's all good, isn't it?- Yeah.

0:36:42 > 0:36:45- I've got him down to win. - Have you?- I don't know...

0:36:45 > 0:36:47It's so difficult...

0:36:47 > 0:36:48He's young and good-looking!

0:36:48 > 0:36:50LAUGHTER

0:36:58 > 0:37:01Ladies and gentlemen, take your seats, please.

0:37:01 > 0:37:03It's almost time to celebrate the finalists,

0:37:03 > 0:37:07and reveal the winners, on this night with the stars,

0:37:07 > 0:37:14a reminder of our stellar finalists in the 2017 Farmers Weekly awards!

0:37:18 > 0:37:21APPLAUSE

0:37:23 > 0:37:26Would you please welcome your host for the evening,

0:37:26 > 0:37:27Gyles Brandreth!

0:37:33 > 0:37:35Good evening, ladies and gentlemen.

0:37:35 > 0:37:40If you are wondering why I am here this evening,

0:37:40 > 0:37:42then already we have something in common!

0:37:42 > 0:37:44LAUGHTER

0:37:46 > 0:37:49But there is nowhere that I would rather be

0:37:49 > 0:37:52than with the beautiful people of British farming.

0:37:52 > 0:37:54CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

0:38:02 > 0:38:06Welcome to the Farmers Weekly awards 2017!

0:38:06 > 0:38:09- Hurray! - CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

0:38:09 > 0:38:11Over the course of the evening,

0:38:11 > 0:38:1318 awards will be presented,

0:38:13 > 0:38:17in categories ranging from Young Farmer of the Year

0:38:17 > 0:38:19to a lifetime achievement award.

0:38:19 > 0:38:21Next, ladies and gentlemen,

0:38:21 > 0:38:23we come to Agricultural Student of the Year.

0:38:25 > 0:38:28The winner is Josh Dowbiggin.

0:38:33 > 0:38:36While they watch others win for their impressive achievements...

0:38:36 > 0:38:38The winner is Chris Bayliss!

0:38:38 > 0:38:39CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

0:38:39 > 0:38:42..it's a nervous wait for the farm workers.

0:38:42 > 0:38:43Feel more relaxed now we're at the table,

0:38:43 > 0:38:46and at the event and it's started, like.

0:38:46 > 0:38:47- So no, really good.- Yeah, it's good.

0:38:47 > 0:38:50And the atmosphere is electric.

0:38:50 > 0:38:53It's amazing, absolutely amazing. It's so nice.

0:38:53 > 0:38:55Just to be with a group of fun people.

0:38:55 > 0:38:58It's absolutely... Yeah, it's brilliant.

0:38:58 > 0:39:02Feeling good, we're sat down and got started. Yes.

0:39:02 > 0:39:05- There is such a buzz.- It's such a buzz, it's so loud.- It's electric.

0:39:05 > 0:39:08It's so good. It really is fantastic.

0:39:13 > 0:39:15Finally, it's the moment they've been waiting for.

0:39:16 > 0:39:18Just a little bit nervous.

0:39:18 > 0:39:19HE GIGGLES

0:39:19 > 0:39:24And now, we come to what I think is one of the most significant awards

0:39:24 > 0:39:28of the evening, Farm Worker of the Year.

0:39:28 > 0:39:30CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

0:39:30 > 0:39:32Here we go, folks.

0:39:32 > 0:39:35The truth is, I don't know much about farming,

0:39:35 > 0:39:38but I have to say, from what I've seen,

0:39:38 > 0:39:41these guys seem to be the unsung heroes of farming.

0:39:42 > 0:39:44- They're amazing.- Well, Gyles,

0:39:44 > 0:39:46on that Farm Workers shortlist are...

0:39:46 > 0:39:48..from Firs Farm, Caxton, Cambridgeshire,

0:39:48 > 0:39:50- Stephen Adams! - CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

0:39:50 > 0:39:52Steve uses an immense experience

0:39:52 > 0:39:54across a variety of roles on the farm,

0:39:54 > 0:39:58including baling 18,000-20,000 bales of hay and straw a year.

0:39:58 > 0:40:00He's also a prolific welder,

0:40:00 > 0:40:01a telehandler operator,

0:40:01 > 0:40:04and is renowned as the best wagon loader around.

0:40:06 > 0:40:08From Clandon Farm, Dorchester, Gary Hawker.

0:40:08 > 0:40:09CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

0:40:09 > 0:40:12Gary has a forensic desire for improvement,

0:40:12 > 0:40:16and driving efficiencies within his 435-strong milking herd.

0:40:16 > 0:40:19He's successfully overseen the farm's transition

0:40:19 > 0:40:21from twice to once-a-day milking,

0:40:21 > 0:40:26whilst ensuring high animal welfare, and optimum levels of fertility.

0:40:26 > 0:40:29And from Hoo Farm, Pertenhall, in Bedfordshire, it's Hugh Sapsed.

0:40:29 > 0:40:30CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

0:40:30 > 0:40:33Hugh lives by the mantra of not making work hard for yourself

0:40:33 > 0:40:36but keeping things simple, doing jobs well.

0:40:36 > 0:40:40He's a multi-talented farm worker across every facet of the business,

0:40:40 > 0:40:42and has been instrumental in saving valuable time

0:40:42 > 0:40:44and winning new business.

0:40:44 > 0:40:46Three strong finalists, again.

0:40:46 > 0:40:49Only one can be Farm Worker of the Year, Gyles.

0:40:51 > 0:40:53Just to be here,

0:40:53 > 0:40:56these three farm workers have shown exceptional loyalty,

0:40:56 > 0:41:00ingenuity, and a tireless dedication to farming.

0:41:03 > 0:41:09And the winner of the 2017 Farm Worker of the Year is...

0:41:11 > 0:41:13..Hugh Sapsed!

0:41:13 > 0:41:16CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

0:41:26 > 0:41:28Congratulations it is.

0:41:28 > 0:41:30Farm Worker of the Year, Hugh Sapsed!

0:41:35 > 0:41:38Brilliant. I didn't think my name was going to be called out,

0:41:38 > 0:41:40and as I've said many a time,

0:41:40 > 0:41:42I'm no better than anybody else.

0:41:42 > 0:41:44It's just my turn.

0:41:44 > 0:41:46Oh...

0:41:46 > 0:41:47Oh, bless!

0:41:48 > 0:41:51- Little bit disappointed, but... - Never mind.

0:41:51 > 0:41:52Again, we're just happy to be here!

0:41:52 > 0:41:55It's not often that you get chosen to be the final three

0:41:55 > 0:41:58in a category that you work hard at, so no, we...

0:41:58 > 0:42:01Hopefully, we can build on this and, you know,

0:42:01 > 0:42:04keep working hard in the future to progress in the business

0:42:04 > 0:42:05that we're in.

0:42:05 > 0:42:08Yes, I've enjoyed the experience tonight.

0:42:08 > 0:42:09- I think we both have.- Yes.

0:42:09 > 0:42:10It will be nice to get home,

0:42:10 > 0:42:13get back in my own bed, and then get up in the morning.

0:42:13 > 0:42:15It'll be a late morning, I suppose.

0:42:16 > 0:42:18And then, I hope the sun's going to shine,

0:42:18 > 0:42:20and we're going to get on with some work!

0:42:22 > 0:42:23POP

0:42:23 > 0:42:25CHEERING