A straight A student who decided she wanted to train as a farmer is celebrating after scooping a coveted award from the Suffolk Agricultural Association.
Kerry Knott was crowned Suffolk Agricultural Apprentice of the Year at this year’s Suffolk Show.
The competition, run in association with Easton and Otley College and sponsored by farming co-operative Fram Farmers, is open to apprentices with a Suffolk employer who are studying for an agriculturally-related apprenticeship.
Judges Tim Styles from Fram Farmers and Stephen Cobbald from the Suffolk Agricultural Association were impressed with the quality of entrants.
“They showed how an apprenticeship is an excellent way to attract just the sort of bright young entrants needed by today’s modern agricultural businesses,” said Tim.
This year’s winner is Kerry Knott, employed by Jonathan Bradley, of Genetic Solutions, based at Battisford, near Stowmarket. She is studying pig production and genetics through a livestock apprenticeship at Easton and Otley College.
Kerry, who achieved straight A and A*s in all her GCSEs and A levels, was drawn to an apprenticeship because it offered her practical training alongside the theory and did not involve a student loan. She plans to progress to a degree level apprenticeship.
This year’s runner up was William Appleby, who is studying arable crop production at Easton & Otley College. He is employed by Geoff Mayhew of Geoffrey Mayhew Farms Ltd, Erwarton, on the Shotley Peninsula.
Despite being the youngest entrant, William impressed the judges with his mature attitude and his interest in the science of crop production and plant biology.
Easton and Otley principal David Henley said the awards had raised the profile of apprenticeships within the farming community, which was a central purpose of them.
“We are getting some really good feedback from farmers in terms of the apprentices we have placed,” he said. “We continue to look for ways to match young people who want to become apprentices with farmers across the county, and of course the apprenticeship is a really good product to enable farmers to grow future talent with the help of the college.”
As well as a trophy, the winner receives a cheque for £100 and a worked-based certificate course, while the runner-up scoops £50 and a trophy.
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