Sussex Farmer of the Year Shortlist

Father and son Robin and Kevin Ashby are fourth generation Sussex farmers. Robin, now 73, returned to what was then a traditionally run farm after completing his National Service. However, by the late 1980's decided to expand and diversify the farm. Wife Audrey had always produced wonderful home made ice cream using milk from their own award winning dairy herd and so the idea was born for Willetts Farm Ice Cream. Now produced in 16 flavours plus 4 sorbets, Robin and Kevin sell primarily through local farm shops and delicatessens and is much loved by foodies across the county.

Tim Hassell became Farm General Manager at Goodwood in October 2009, moving to Sussex with his wife and two children to take over this huge concern, with a staff of 13. Born in Sheffield near the steelworks, his family worked in the steel industry, but he lived near a farm as a child and loved agriculture and rural life from an early age so went to Agricultural College rather than the steelworks. He started his working life on a YTS (Youth Training Scheme) on a farm in Burton, moved around the country gaining experience, and has lived in Tamworth, near Gloucester, Newcastle then Basingstoke where he worked on his first organic farm. Innovations which Tim has overseen, include rearing Christmas turkeys and a new venture to press cheeses. In conjunction with their Farm Shop, the Goodwood team runs farm walks and tours and hosts school visits, promoting food and farming.

Winners of the Sussex Farmer of the Year Award in 2008/09, business has gone from strength to strength for Hook and Sons in the last three years. Their organic raw milk, initally just available in the local area is now sold across London including the prestigious Borough Market and this, coupled with their new UK wide online ordering service, has helped sales more than triple. The product ranged has also expanded to include cream and butter and this expansion has meant an increase in staff from eight to sixteen in two years. Plans for the forthcoming months include more London markets and a new milking and processing system. The Hooks also hope to be able to increase visitor numbers to Longleys Farm giving them the option to stay on the farm in yurts.

Former winners of the Sussex Farmer of the Year Award, brother and sister Jenny and Trevor Passmore run Church Farm together and their mother Mary, now 91, still helps out and was proud to join her children at last year's awards dinner. Their father Dick was awarded an MBE for his work in education and conservation in the rurual community and Jenny’s son Andrew attends Plumpton College and hopes to become the 5th generation of the Passmore family to run the farm in the future. Church Farm is farm assured and classified an Environmentally Sensitive Area and farms sheep, cattle and arable land. The farm is open to the public, averaging 15,000 visitors a year, mainly during lambing, but also hosting music festivals, beer festivals and weddings

Shon and his brother Simon manage a commercial farm of over 4000 acres, with a large organic butcher’s selling meat directly to customers, through farmers markets and to local shops. Shon gives talks to various organisations about local produce and the story behind Rother Valley Organics, which is renowned for its excellent animal welfare and good husbandry. He works with other local producers putting meat into their products, including the local brewery for beef and ale pies. Their butchering and cold store is the largest in the area and many other local producers use it to get their meat to market. Shon and Simon are also known for their environmental conservation and help organisations such as the local Council, National Trust and others to effectively manage and graze their land in a sustainable way. They are particularly proud that their organic beef is classified as a high health status herd which lives on grass all the year round.