Five finalists from colleges and universities across the UK have been shortlisted for this year's Farm Health Management Awards, sponsored by Volac.
Students from Bristol Vet School, Harper Adams University, Royal Agricultural University, and Duchy College will vie for the coveted trophies when the winners are announced at Dairy-Tech 2023 on 1st February at Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire.
The awards, judged this year by RABDF Policy Director Tim Brigstoke and Council Member and Vet Sarah Tomlinson, aim to demonstrate and test the students' knowledge of proactive farm health management.
The competition is split into three categories: students at agricultural colleges, agricultural universities and vet schools, and is open to students in all year groups.
Each student had to submit a 1,500-word essay on proactive farm health management.
This year's finalists are:
Vet school
- Jack Rust (Bristol Vet School)
University
- Alexandra Godfrey (Royal Agricultural University)
- Marley Lamerton (Harper Adams University)
College
- David Isaac (Duchy College)
- Laura Butt (Duchy College)
The winners for each category will be announced at 12:00pm on the Volac stand and will take away a £500 cash prize.
Commenting on this year's finalists, judge and RABDF Policy Director Tim Brigstocke said: "This year's finalists all had a good awareness of biosecurity as well as its inclusivity into farm health planning. Training was also something they all emphasised as being important."
Matthew Knight, Managing Director at RABDF, added: "Farm Health Management is an integral part of running a productive and profitable farm and is integral to delivering health and welfare improvements as part of Defra's Animal Health and Welfare Pathway."
For more information about Dairy-Tech 2023, visit dairy-tech.uk