RABDF Farm Health Management Awards

 

Students from Harper & Keele Vet School, The University of Nottingham and Bridgwater & Taunton College came out on top in the 2025 RABDF Farm Health Management Awards, kindly sponsored by Volac.

The award aims to demonstrate an understanding of, and test students’ knowledge of, proactive farm health management.

The competition is split into three categories: students at agricultural colleges, agricultural universities and vet schools.

Each candidate submitted a 1,500 word essay on proactive farm health management explaining how they thought farm sustainability could be enhanced, from both financial and environmental aspects.

The awards were judged by Sarah Banks, and RABDF Trustees Sarah Tomlinson, and Tim Brigstocke. Each category winner took home a £500 cash prize.

The winners in 2025 were (below L-R): Amy Bishop from Bridgwater & Taunton College, Elektra Brown from The University of Nottingham and Oriana Barnes from Harper & Keele Vet School.

The runners up were: Beth Wallace from Duchy College, and Catherine Kelly from the University of Surrey.

Sarah Tomlinson says as an RABDF Trustee, it was a privilege to judge the Farm Health Planning essays.

“The winners stood out as they really grasped the value of collaboration, not just within the direct farm team, but also with external advisers like the private vet, nutritionists and other paraprofessionals. Students acknowledged the importance of consumer and public perception, which combined with examples of personal experiences on farm, really helped bring the essays to life. It was also clear to see they understood the importance of monitoring data and the impact endemic disease can have on costs and long term financial and environmental sustainability of a business.”

The award winners were announced on the Dairy Hub at Dairy-Tech and were presented by Sarah Banks, and Sarah Tomlinson.

Entries for the 2026 Awards will open during September 2025.

Previous winners of the Farm Health Management Awards:

  • 2025

    • Agricultural College Student Winner: Amy Bishop, Bridgwater & Taunton College

    • Agricultural University Student Winner: Elektra Brown, The University of Nottingham

    • Veterinary University Student Winner: Oriana Barnes, Harper & Keele Vet School

  • 2024

    • Agricultural College Student Winner: Clara Woodhead, Duchy College

    • Agricultural University Student Winner: Molly Mead, Harper Adams University

    • Veterinary University Student Winner: Rebecca Langford, University of Surrey

  • 2023

    • Agricultural College Student Winner: Laura Butt, Duchy College

    • Agricultural University Student Winner: Marley Lamerton, Harper Adams University

    • Veterinary University Student Winner: Jack Rust, Bristol Vet School

  • 2020

    • Agricultural College Student Winner: Matt McClymont, Myerscough College

    • Agricultural University Student Winner: Lucy Ross, Nottingham University

    • Veterinary University Student Winner: Faye Al-Nakeeb, University of Bristol

  • 2019:

    • Agricultural College Student Winner: Andrew Smith of Bridgwater and Taunton College

    • Agricultural University Student Winner: Ceri Davies, IBERS Aberystwyth University

  • 2018

    • Agricultural College Student Winner: Jonathan Bryer, Bridgwater and Taunton College

    • Agricultural University Student Winner: Francesca Mansfield, Aberystwyth University

    • Veterinary Student Winner: Penny Stewart, RDSVS Edinburgh

  • 2017

    • Agricultural Student Winner: Elizabeth Johnson, Newcastle University

    • Veterinary Student Winner: Ellen Smith, RDSVS Edinburgh

  • 2016

    • Agricultural Student Winner: Ruth Wills, Duchy College

    • Veterinary Student Winner: Kaz Strycharczyk, Cambridge Vet School

  • 2015:

    • Agricultural Student Winner: William Cranfield, Plumpton College

    • Veterinary Student Winner: Paul Doran, Cambridge Vet School

  • 2014:

    • Agricultural Student Winner: Rebecca Hodgson, Myerscough College

    • Veterinary Student Winner: Susan Carr, The Royal Veterinary College

  • 2013:

    • Agricultural Student Winner: Charlotte Torrance, Plumpton College

    • Veterinary Student Winner: Gregory Steele, Cambridge Veterinary School

  • 2012:

    • Agricultural Student Winner: Diane Gornall, Myerscough College

    • Veterinary Student Winner: Emily Gascoigne, Cambridge Vet School

  • 2011:

    • Agricultural Student Winner: Sarah Anne Moore, Duchy College

    • Veterinary Student Winner: Nathan Rhys Williams, University of Liverpool

  • 2010:

    • Agricultural Student Winner: Tom Percy, Duchy College

    • Veterinary Student Winner: Stacy Douglas, Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies