Leicestershire farmer awarded for NFU advocacy

A beef and arable farmer from Leicestershire has been honoured at NFU Conference for his dedication and commitment to the NFU and to the British farming industry.
calendar icon 26 February 2020
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This year’s Meurig Raymond Award – named after the NFU’s former President – was last night presented to NFU East Midlands member Joe Stanley.

Joe has become a high-profile advocate for the food and farming sector via the mainstream media and on social media. He’s a regular contributor and columnist in national newspapers and farming trade magazines, and last summer hosted BBC Breakfast for a week on his farm near Ashby-de-la-Zouch. He has just become the NFU’s Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Rutland county vice chairman.

Mr Stanley said: “It’s a huge honour to have been given this award and many congratulations to all the other nominees.

“All I’ve done is talk about what all the NFU members have been doing for our environment and producing quality food. If all of us just put some attention to promoting what we do as an industry that will be such a positive message.”

NFU Director General Terry Jones said: “I’m absolutely delighted for Joe who is a worthy winner of this year’s Meurig Raymond award.

“He is the embodiment of what the NFU is all about. As well as running his own farming business, he’s an engaged grassroots NFU member and his local branch is enjoying a revival of activity due to his efforts to make the NFU more open and accessible to the younger generation.

“His dedication, hard work and positivity has made him a progressive voice for our industry and helped raise the profile of British farmers and what they do.”

Joe Stanley, representing the NFU East Midlands region, was selected from eight nominees drawn from each of the NFU’s seven English regions and NFU Cymru. The other nominees were: Judith Jacobs (East Anglia), Bal Padda (West Midlands), Hugh Passmore (South East), Mark Weekes (South West), Clare Morgan (Wales), David Martin (North East), Kit Hopley (North West).

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