The Competition

The aim of the competition is to find the region’s best farming diversification businesses. The Suffolk Agricultural Association (SAA) in partnership with Ashton KCJ Solicitors have been running this annual competition since 1992 and it is now regarded as the region’s premier farming diversification competition.

The competition is open to farmers from Suffolk, Norfolk, Cambridgeshire and Essex – who can submit any alternative land enterprise they are running from buildings or land on their farm. Entries will be judged for their creative, commercial and practical merits. We welcome back previous entrants.

The Prizes

As well as prizes for first and second place in the competition, there is also a special category for best newcomer. This category is for any first time entry which has been in business for less than three years. There is also a special award for the best ‘green’ practice. Further Certificates of Merit may be awarded at the judges’ discretion.

1st Prize

• The Ashton KCJ Challenge Cup
• A cash prize of £1,000 to be spent on the enterprise
• A certificate

2nd Prize

• A cash prize of £250 to be spent on the enterprise
• A certificate

Best Newcomer

• A cash prize of £250 to be spent on the enterprise
• A certificate
Special Award for the Best ‘Green’ Practice.
• A cash prize of £100 to be spent on the enterprise
• A certificate

The Judges

The Earl of Iveagh SAA Council Member and EEDA Board Member.
Jonathan Long Agricultural Partner, Ashton KCJ Solicitors.
Robert Paul Winner of the 2009 BALE Award Competition for the Suffolk Food Hall.

Judging

Entries for the BALE Awards for 2010 have now closed

The judging will take place on Wednesday 20 and Thursday 21 October 2010.

The Awards Presentation will take place in January 2011 at Trinity Park.

* The judging schedule is arranged to fit in all the enterprises over two days to make maximum use of time available. Please ensure that someone from the enterprise is available on both of the judging days.

Benefits of Entry to the BALE Award

The competition attracts great interest from regional media and farming publications providing entrants, particularly the winners, with the opportunity to raise their profile and increase awareness of their businesses. The winners receive cash prizes to invest in their enterprises.

Previous Winners

With the changes to the agricultural industry over recent years, farmers have been forced into establishing other businesses in order to support the core farm business. Many, including all our past winners, have done this with considerable success and the competition demonstrates the enormous entrepreneurial skills of the region’s farmers.

Previous winners include:

• Suffolk Food Hall – Farmshop with full butchery, delicatessen, bakery, fishmonger, etc. Restaurant/café and
garden centre
• Hollow Trees Farm Shop – which sells home grown vegetables, plants and meat
• Farmhouse Cooking – a bakery run from redundant farm buildings
• Mulberry Bush and Hill Farm Nurseries - children’s nurseries
• The Playbarn and Barn Club – a children’s play venue and farm park, and children’s pre and afterschool club
• The Reid Rooms – stable buildings converted to conference rooms/wedding facilities
• Wix Equestrian Centre & Valley Farm Riding Centre
• Park Farm Business Centre – conversion of obsolete farm buildings to high specification office accommodation
• Bruisyard Hall – renovated farmhouse converted to specialist holiday accommodation
• Resting Pets Crematorium and Cemetery – cremations and burials for pets

Other businesses entered include thatching straw, herb growers, rare meat suppliers and machinery builders. This list is by no means exhaustive and no business is too small to enter!

How to Enter

Entries have now closed for 2010.