Sugar beet competition entries by Friday, October 13 to the secretary, please. Don't forget to keep your grain samples too! Entry added: 04 Oct 2023 |
Sugar beet competition entries by Friday, October 13 to the secretary, please. Dont forget to keep you grain samples too! Entry added: 04 Oct 2023 |
Congratulation to Stalham members in latest county farms’ competition -
Congratulations to Stalham Farmers’ Club members for success in the latest Norfolk County Farm Business competition.
Organised by the Aylsham Agricultural Show Association, the following were trophy winners in the 42nd annual competition.
The current chairman, William Sands, of Brunstead, near Stalham, was a runner-up as was the club’s webmaster, Tim Papworth, of LF Papworth, of Felmingham.
Others enjoying success included another former club chairman, Luke Paterson, who won the diversification award for the family business, Dilham Hall Retreats. The runner-up was Richard Hirst and son Robert’s enterprise, Hirst’s Farm Shop & Café.
Mr Sands, of HBS Farms, of Brunstead, who entertained more than 130 club members and guests from East Norfolk National Farmers’ Union at last week’s chairman’s farm walk, was a runner-up in the B class, which was won by Wm Youngs & Sons Farms – incidentally the overall reserve champion.
LF Papworth Ltd, run by Tim Papworth and cousin Kit Papworth, were runners-up in the class A category, which was won by the Raynham Farm Company Ltd. The Leonard Papworth Trophy for the winning farm manager/ foreman will be presented to Tom Pearson along with the Barclays Bank Challenge Cup at a farm walk on Tuesday, July 4.
The category for smaller enterprise, under 400 acres, was won by Tony Bambridge, of Park Farm, Blickling.
The AASA’s Jubilee Cup for best livestock enterprise was won by Stephen Temple, of J F Temple, of Copys Green Farm, Wighton, near Wells.
Another Stalham member, Rob Norman, who was co-ordinator of the farm business awards competition, said that there were 14 entries in the farms classes and six for the diversification category, which was especially strong.
He thanked the team of six judges and the sponsors, Brown & Co for continuing support for the annual competition.
The supreme champion, Raynham Farm Company, will host the farm walk, sponsored by Frontier Agriculture and Payne Crop Nutrition, on Tuesday, July 4 at Hall Farm, Toftrees NR21 7EB – arrive by 6pm for prompt departure, returning for presentations by 8.30pm. Entry added: 26 Jun 2023 |
Mustard, flowers and supper at summer farm walk -
A mustard trip and blooming flowers will be among the attractions at the chairman's annual farm walk on Wednesday, June 21 at Brunstead.
Our hosts, Andrew and William Sands and Louisa Butcher, will welcome members and guests of Stalham Farmers' Club and the East Norfolk NFU branch to Brunstead House Farm, Ingham Road NR12 9HE - meet at 5.30pm for 6pm start, please.
Louisa will also be talking about her thriving florist enterprise, which also includes growing British-grown flowers for decoration. Our chairman, William, who has also diversified into growing mustard for Colman's, will brief guests on the other enterprises including potatoes, sugar beet, cereals and land let for salads.
After the tour, there will be a hog roast - provided by the Sands family.
To help planning numbers, please let the secretary, Michael Pollitt (michaelbpollitt@btinternet.com or telephone 01603 486997) or the East Norfolk NFU office (northwalsham@nfumutual.co.uk or telephone 01692 402929 by 5pm on Friday, June 16, please.
Also please indicate any dietary concerns as well as numbers - by June 16. The farm walk is being held with the East Norfolk NFU branch. Entry added: 03 Jun 2023 |
Treasures of the deep on show - An afternoon trip into the City to visit the Gloucester exhibition at the Castle Museum was enjoyed by more than 30 members and guests on Sunday, March 26. The pre-booked group, which included a handful of guests from Holt & District Farmers' Club, was able to see many of the finds discovered from the wreck site by Julian and Lincoln Barnwell on June 30, 2007. As Julian told members at the club's January meeting, to date about 400 finds have been recovered including almost 150 bottles, including 29 with their contents. A further 17 bottles, which are being stored offsite, even contain air from 1682 when the Gloucester sank with the loss of at least 130 lives. The Duke of York, who became King James II in 1685, escaped in his underclothes through the ship's stern. In another display, the contents of two chests included items from a bundle of material including a most attractive pettycoat. The ship's bell, dated 1681, which weighs 65kg, was also recovered and a leather purse or wallet stamped with a crown - dating from post 1660. The exhibition continues until September 10, 2023. Entry added: 26 Mar 2023 |
Secrets of the Deep - The Gloucester at the Castle Museum. A total of 30 places have been booked for the club's visit on Sunday, March 26. Members and guests are asked to assemble by 2pm said the secretary, Michael Pollitt. To speed access to the museum, one payment will be made for the group's block booking on behalf of the club. Please bring £5 per head to cover the admission price. The usual price is £6.30 with £6.05 for concessions. There are a handful of vacancies to join the tour because several members, who have booked are now unable to attend. If you'd like to join the party, please let the secretary know as soon as possible - michaelbpollitt@btinternet.com or telephone 01603 486997. All requests will be acknowledged. Entry added: 22 Mar 2023 |
Special presentation for six decades of support –
A special presentation was made to a former chairman for an outstanding attendance record spanning six decades.
The chairman’s award was made to Ken Leggett by guest speaker Gavin Lane, vice-president of the Country Land and Business Association, at the club’s annual dinner at North Walsham Rugby Club.
In making the announcement, the chairman Will Sands said that Ken had been elected to the club in 1965 and had been a regular attender for the past 58 years.
He gave him a bottle of red wine as a small token of the club’s appreciation for his support. In a brief address, Mr Sands spoke of the “rollercoaster” challenges of farming in 2022 – a surge in inflation, soaring record temperatures and the prolonged drought. After Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022 – he had watched, almost bemused, as wheat prices hit £250, then £300 and £350 per tonne. It had been quite a year, he said, which was a considerable under-statement.
The club also welcomed two members of Holt & District Farmers’ Club – the president Richard Brooks and the current chairman Pat Cubitt – as well as west Norfolk farmer Mr Lane – as almost 70 members and guests enjoyed a three-course meal.
As vice-president of the CLA, Mr Lane highlighted the importance of making the voice of farming and rural business heard by government. However, he recognised that the agricultural industry and land managers had to rise to the challenge of enhancing the natural environment. He suggested that the direction of future funding – public money for public goods – was a clear, government priority. For the present and indeed into the future, support for domestic food production did not feature in Whitehall’s policy thinking.
Mr Lane, who won the Royal Norfolk Agricultural Association’s Nuffield scholarship in 2003 to study the opportunities for farm shops, also spoke of the mental health challenges in the wider farming community. The importance of groups like the Stalham Farmers’ Club could not be over-estimated in terms of encouraging mental health wellbeing and concern.
Entry added: 17 Mar 2023 |
Outstanding sample retain supreme barley championship for Stalham -
An outstanding sample of a spring variety clinched Norfolk’s top malting barley title for Stalham Farmers’ Club for the second year in a row.
John McLeod, of Old Manor Farm, East Ruston, won the supreme championship in the annual tussle for honours against Holt & District Farmers’ Club. The sample of Lucent, grown by farm manager David Pickering, was placed by Bob King, retiring commercial director of Crisp Malting Group, ahead of the entry from William Mack, of Hempstead Hall, of the winter variety, Craft.
Stalham’s success was announced at the club’s annual dinner at North Walsham Rugby Club, where the awards were presented by west Norfolk farmer Gavin Lane, vice-president of the Country Land and Business Association.
It was a night of triumph for Mr McLeod’s team, who also won the wheat trophy with a sample of Gleam. The president, George Gay, of Mautby Farms, was runner-up with the same variety.
MIlligen McLeod’s team picked up the trophy for best crop of sugar beet ahead of neighbours, Edward de Feyter, of the CH Callow partnership.
The best two-acre trophy was awarded to former club president, Thomas Love, of Walcott Farms, ahead of Robert Cook, of Ingham. The Cantley Cup, first presented in 1928, for best overall performance in the last beet campaign, was won by Walcott Farms with Alan Beck, of Brunstead, runner-up, and Cubitt Siely in third place.
The Potato Cup’s winner was a crop of Ivory Russet, grown by James Harrison, at Neatishead. Tim Papworth was runner-up.
Mr Lane, who farms about 1,200 acres in west Norfolk, spoke of the challenges facing the agricultural industry and rural businesses in promoting a positive message to all tiers of government. He said that farmers and land managers were keen to play a leading role in “greening” the countryside but said that it was often extremely difficult to highlight policies to encourage food production.
The Country Land and Business Association represented 27,000 members, including about half who farmed less than 250 acres.
He was thanked by the vice-chairman, Jon Pye, and given a silk tie depicting the club’s Stalham hoe.
The competition judges – Robin Baines (potato), Sam Summers (sugar beet) and Chris Borrett (wheat and barley) were also thanked.
Entry added: 17 Mar 2023 |
URGENT REMINDER – Annual dinner ticket deadline -
Our caterer has asked for final numbers by close of play on Monday, March 6 for the annual dinner at North Walsham Rugby Club.
The speaker for the dinner and presentation of prizes and awards is West Norfolk farmer Gavin Lane, who is a deputy president of the Country Land and Business Association.
The dinner will be held on Wednesday, March 15 – meet at 6.45pm for 7.30pm sit-down.
Applications to join the tour of the Gloucester at the Castle Museum, Norwich, on Sunday, March 26 (2pm) have now reached 25.
DINNER - Please book your places for the annual dinner with the secretary Michael Pollitt by Monday, March 6 at the very latest. Numbers may be limited but the price has been pegged at £35 per head.
ANNUAL DINNER
The three-course meal, including coffee, will be at North Walsham Rugby Club, Scottow, NR10 5BU as it was last year.
There is a vegetarian alternative but the main course will be (British) chicken, and sticky toffee pudding and coffee.
Tickets cost £35. Please let the secretary know if you’d like to attend – contact michaelbpollitt@btinternet.com or telephone 01603 486997.
Please pay direct to the club’s bank -Stalham Farmers Club Sort code 20 99 21 Account 40827886.
Cheques may be sent – payable to Stalham Farmers Club, 60 Chamberlin Road, Norwich NR3 3LY. Payment must be made in advance, please.
All requests for tickets will be acknowledged.
If you do not receive confirmation within a day or so, it is possible your message has not been received. If that is the case, please either telephone or use my alternative email – michael.pollitt2014.gmail.com
Regards
Michael Pollitt
Stalham Farmers' Club
01603 486997
Entry added: 02 Mar 2023 |
ANNUAL DINNER
The three-course meal, including coffee, will be at North Walsham Rugby Club, Scottow, as it was last year. Our speaker, west Norfolk farmer Gavin Lane, who is a national vice-president of the Country Land and business Association, will present prize cards and trophies.
The meal will be served, promptly, at 7.30pm.
There is a vegetarian alternative but the main course will be (British) chicken, and sticky toffee pudding and coffee.
Tickets cost £35. Please let the secretary know if you’d like to attend – contact michaelbpollitt@btinternet.com or telephone 01603 486997. Please pay direct to the club’s bank -Stalham Farmers Club Sort code 20 99 21 Account 40827886.
Cheques may be sent – payable to Stalham Farmers Club, 60 Chamberlin Road, Norwich NR3 3LY. Payment must be made in advance, please. All requests for tickets will be acknowledged.
If you do not receive confirmation within a day or so, it is possible your message has not been received. If that is the case, please either telephone or use my alternative email – Michael.pollitt2014. gmail.com
Finally, thanks to our webmaster, Tim Papworth, who takes over as chairman of Norfolk National Farmers’ Union today. A regular voice on BBC Radio 4’s Farming Today – as he was again last week - he is a great ambassador for the industry.
Entry added: 23 Feb 2023 |