Myerscough student’s achievements celebrated in Cumbria Farmer Awards

Charlotte Elliott was a finalist in the category of Agriculture Student of the Year in the ceremony last week.

18-year-old Charlotte has spent the last year completing a City & Guilds Level 3 in agriculture at Myerscough, moving away from her home, at the family farm at Bank House, near Penrith, at the age of 16 to pursue her dream career.

Charlotte has a particular interest in genetics, including fields of bull selection and cow performance, and this is one part of the sector where she will no doubt go on to specialise in in her future career

Earlier this year, she attended the British Breeders Conference and the national NFU conference in Manchester, the only school leaver/Level 3 student to do so, in a group of degree level learners.

Charlotte also works on the family farm, where she helps tend to 160 suckler beef cattle + 1000 sheep, farming across two farms / 350 acres in Mungrisdale. This work also includes work on a dairy farm at weekends.

In addition, Charlotte is involved in preparing and showing North of England mules at a range of livestock shows. This included being an important role in the rearing of the Elliott family’s 2022 Royal Highland Show North of England Mule gimmer shearling champion.

The awards are organised by Newsquest Cumbria.

Hailed as one of the best nights out in the county’s farming calendar, the awards showcased some of the county’s most outstanding food producers and landscape custodians. And alongside traditional farming sectors, such as dairy, beef, sheep and machinery, the awards also recognised students, agricultural businesses, and women in agriculture.

The awards ceremony, held in Wigton on Friday, was hosted by Cumbrian-born Caz Graham, who reports and presents for BBC Radio 4 programmes, including Farming Today, On Your Farm and Open Country. She also reports for PM and the World at One.

Caz said: “What a great night to be part of - a real celebration and a wonderful showcase for rural Cumbria.’”

John Wharton, farmer and livestock manager and auctioneer at Mitchell’s Auction Mart in Cockermouth, compered, and also hosted a live auction and raffle which raised a staggering £8,000 for the nominated charities - Farming Community Network (FCN), and the Great North Air Ambulance Service (GNAAS).

Joy Yates, regional editor for Newsquest Cumbria, said: “Events like this make me so proud to work in Cumbria.“What an amazing night and a huge thank you to our awards partner David Allen and team for being so supportive.

“Congrats to all our winners and those shortlisted.

Georgina Lamb, senior partnerships manager with FCN said: “It was a cracking night spent amongst true Cumbria royalty at a sell-out third Cumbria Farmer Awards. Wonderful evening with the finest farmers, firms and friends the county has to offer. Grateful thanks to everyone who donated auction lots and prizes, also to those who dug deep and raised a brilliant £8k.

‘’Well done to all the winners and finalists.”