THE Royal Three Counties Show team has said they are delighted to be supporting the inaugural Three Counties Farming Awards.

The popular show, which like the awards celebrates the food and farming industry, is sponsoring the Farming Hero Award.

The award is made in recognition of an individuals outstanding contribution and enthusiastic approach to the farming industry.

The winner of this award will be someone who is prepared to go the extra mile and is open to everyone involved in agriculture, from farmers to labourers, consultants, advisors, contractors and specialists.

Awards organiser Sue Griffiths said: “This is a really special award and we are so pleased that the Royal Three Counties Show is sponsoring it.

“This one is for those unsung heroes and we would love it if members of the public would nominate their farming hero.

“All they need to do is fill in the nomination form on line.”

She added: “The awards recognise all the effort and hard work of individuals. There is a massive appetite for people to get engaged and nominate their agricultural friends, family and colleagues. Farmers can put themselves forwards too.”

Home of the Royal Three Counties Show, the Three Counties Showground at Malvern, is where the awards will be presented on the evening of June 13, the eve of the three-day show, which is in association with JCB Paint.

Three Counties head of shows Diana Walton said: “We are delighted to be able to provide a first class facility to host the awards evening. The evening will also support the charity, the Addington Fund, who work tirelessly for the farming community.”

She added: “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.”

Awards categories also include those for the region’s iconic fruit, hop and cattle farming sectors. Awards will also be presented for sheep, pig, poultry and arable farming, as well as for sustainability and diversification, family run farms, young farmer and

farming contractor.

Money raised during the awards evening will go to the Addington Fund, which helps find homes for families who have had to leave the industry.

Farming celebrations will continue the following day; the first day of the Royal Three Counties Show.

Diana added: “The Royal Three Counties Show is the perfect day out for family and friends to celebrate the countryside and the great outdoors.

“With a host of outdoor activities to get involved with and arena entertainment to enjoy, the show has something for everyone.”

The awards aim to celebrate the achievements of the farming industry in Gloucestershire, Herefordshire and Worcestershire.

They are organised by Newsquest Media, publisher of the Three Counties Farmer, and its sister newspapers and websites the Worcester News, Hereford Times, Malvern Gazette, Ledbury Reporter, Evesham and Cotswold

Journal, Tenbury Wells Advertiser, Kidderminster Shuttle, Redditch Advertiser, Bromsgrove Advertiser, Droitwich Advertiser, Stroud News and Journal, Gloucestershire Gazette and Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard.

They are supported by headline sponsor Harper Adams University.

The award winners will be named at a gala dinner at the Three Counties Showground on Thursday, June 13, the eve of the Royal Three Counties Show. Money raised there will go to farming charity the Addington

Fund, which helps find homes for farming families who have had to leave the industry.

To submit a nomination for the awards and to find out more visit

www.herefordtimes.com/awards/tcf/