Driffield poultry and farms supervisor wins second national farming award

Management and staff at an East Yorkshire poultry rearing business are celebrating after one of the team won a second national farming award.

Melanie (Mel) Jackson, Poultry and Farms Supervisor at Middleton on the Wolds-based Clive Soanes Broilers won the award for Farm Worker of the Year at the British Farming Awards last week. The news follows just two weeks after Ms Jackson won the same accolade at the Farmers Weekly awards.

A delighted Ms Jackson said:"I enjoy working for Clive Soanes Broilers because every day is a learning day and I get to work with animals, which is my biggest passion. 

"It hasn't sunk in yet that I have won two national farming awards in the space of two weeks, but I am absolutely delighted for myself and the team I work with. To be recognised by my boss, what else could I ask for? "

Ms Jackson faced competition fromAlison Waugh,Daisy Bank Dairy;Jennifer Proudlove,Halton Farms Ltd andAmanda ThomasfromLaylands Farm in North Yorkshire, who won the silver award.

The Farm Worker of the year category was judged by last year's winner, Chloe Shorten; Becci Berry from the Institute of Agriculture and Horticulture; Hannah Binns from Agriconnect and Guy Moreton from MorePeople.

The judges said: "Melanie is a great example of a farm worker who goes above and beyond for the welfare of the birds, making their health and happiness, as well as the people she manages, her top priority.

"From working on the factory floor to poultry and farms supervisor, she has had two successful careers within the business and built up many transferable CPD skills, which are a credit to her."

Sponsored by Morrisons, the British Farming Awards have been celebrating UK agriculture by championing the diversity and resilience of the UK's farming community for 10 years.

Clive Soanes Broilershas been rearing chicken since 1947. The chicken is processed and sold by sister company Soanes Poultry to butchers, independent retailers and restaurants in Yorkshire and wholesalers and catering butchers nationwide.

Ends

PhotoClive Soanes Broilers Poultry and Farms Supervisor, Melanie Jackson with her boss, Claire Wright Double award winner Mel Jackson

For more information or to arrange an interview withClaire Wright or Melanie Jackson,please contact Tracey Baty at three60 marketing on:

Direct line:01430 871360

Mobile:07971 961574

Email:traceybaty@three60marketing.co.uk

Notes to editors

1.      For more information aboutSoanes Poultry, please visitwww.soanespoultry.co.uk.

2.      The British Farming Awards are organised by Agriconnect, the parent company of Farmers Guardian, Arable Farming, LAMMA and many other agricultural brands. For more information about the British Farming Awards, please visithttps://www.britishfarmingawards.co.uk/