Western Daily Press (Saturday)
Clarkson is named NFU farming champion
AN unlikely new hero for British agriculture has been named the National Farmers’ Union farming champion of the year.
Jeremy Clarkson, best known for driving fast cars around the world in Top Gear and asking the questions in Who Wants to be a Millionaire, became a cheerleader for Britain’s farmers when he took on the day-to-day running of a farm he owns in the Cotswolds – making an Amazon Prime television series about the experience.
And now the broadcaster and farmer, whose Clarkson’s Farm series was a huge success, has been named the NFU’s 2021 Farming Champion of the Year at the Farmers’ Weekly Awards.
The award is in recognition of his work this year which has gone beyond the TV series and seen him champion British farming for widely.
The NFU said: “Clarkson’s Farm showcased the realities of farming on his farm in Oxfordshire to millions of viewers, who enjoy his outspoken views on farming and no-nonsense approach.”
The broadcaster has been a strong supporter of the NFU’s Back British Farming day echoing its call for UK food self-sufficiency not to slip below 60%. He went further, calling for government to make 80% self-sufficiency a target. NFU President Minette Batters said: “When it comes to recognising someone who has done their best to showcase British food and farming over the past 12 months, no one has earned this award more than Jeremy Clarkson.
“His show has really resonated with the public, brought alive the ups and downs of our industry to a huge new audience, and transported British farming into the living rooms of families across the country.
“It’s been such a challenging time for British farming over the past 12 months; as key workers our farmers have kept shelves stocked with British food and dealt with extreme weather events. Now, they are battling labour shortages, supply chain disruption and rising costs, which are causing severe problems for essential food producing businesses.
“Through all of this, Jeremy Clarkson has been a vocal champion for the British farming industry. His enthusiasm comes through in spades and his overwhelming and continued support for the NFU’s Back British Farming campaign makes him a very deserving winner of this prestigious award.”