Dairy Student Award 2025
Sponsored by ForFarmers
Harper Adams Student Wins 2025 RABDF Dairy Student Award
Matthew Butterfield, a student at Harper Adams University, has clinched the 2025 RABDF Dairy Student Award, sponsored by ForFarmers. Beating six other finalists in a highly competitive contest, Matthew impressed judges with his knowledge, confidence, and presentation skills.
The award, which has been running for over a decade, is one of the most prestigious competitions for aspiring dairy professionals. Open to university and college students, it challenges entrants to apply their industry knowledge by submitting a 1,500-word essay in response to a case study prepared by Kite Consulting. Finalists then present their findings to a panel of industry experts at Coombe Abbey, Warwickshire.
The winner was announced at Dairy-Tech, the RABDF’s flagship event, on Wednesday, 5th February. Matthew took home a £750 cash prize, while Frances Maxwell from The University of Nottingham was named runner-up.
Organized by the Royal Association of British Dairy Farmers (RABDF), the competition is designed to reflect real-world challenges facing the dairy industry, testing students on their ability to think critically about farm management, policy, and sustainability.
A panel of industry experts, this years finalists were judged by:
Hayley Campbell-Gibbons, RABDF CEO
Tim Downes, RABDF Trustee
Alison Ewing, ForFarmers Sponsor
Chloe Cross, Kite Consulting
Speaking about the competition, Hayley Campbell-Gibbons praised the high calibre of students, “The standard this year was exceptional, making it an incredibly tough decision for the judges. Matthew stood out for his deep understanding of the industry, despite not coming from a farming background. He was knowledgeable, engaging, and confident, he would most definitely engage a room of farmers.”
Alison Ewing, Technical Development Manager at ForFarmers, echoed the sentiment, highlighting the students passion for dairy, “It was a pleasure to judge this competition and meet such talented individuals. Their enthusiasm for the industry was nothing but inspiring.”
Congratulations to all the finalists, and especially to Matthew and Frances. We look forward to following them in their future careers.