Suffolk's top farmers have celebrated a highly productive year at a flagship awards event.

The county's most innovative and forward-thinking farmers vied for a series of prizes - including awards for best small, medium and large farms - at a judging event organised by the Suffolk Agricultural Association in June.

Winners and runners up in the Suffolk Farm Business Competition were chosen in each of the categories and were revealed at a glittering awards dinner held at Trinity Park in Ipswich on October 20.

The winner of the Class 1 category for farms up to 250ha was Mill Green Farm Partnership at Mill Green Farm, Stonham Aspal, near Stowmarket.

The Class 2 award for farms sized 251ha to 500ha went to Porters Farms (Walpole) Ltd of Hill House Farm, Walpole.

E J Barker & Sons of Lodge Farm, Westhorpe & Kiln farm, Gt Ashfield scooped the Class 3 award for farms of more than 500ha.

SAA chief executive Phillip Ainsworth said: "It was great to be able to stage the awards dinner once again following the absence of nearly three years due to the pandemic. 

"It is a wonderful evening celebrating the achievements of the farming businesses in the county as well as winners of our educational initiatives which are aimed at primary and secondary school aged children. 

"As an agricultural association it is our primary objective bringing together the farming community that is very much at the forefront of food growing effort today and the future generations who will be responsible for feeding the population in the future."

The Suffolk Agricultural Association's annual Agricultural Awards Dinner took place on Thursday 20 October 2022.

Other winners were:

Class 1 Best Conservation: Vicki Chapman and E J Barker & Sons; Best Crop: A.C.C. Green – Skyscraper Wheat - Red House Farm, Badingham; Best Livestock Enterprise: P D & G S Mortimer, Fir Tree Farm, Metfield; Best Farm Diversification: Mill Green Farm Partnership - Mill Green Farm, Stonham Aspal.

Class 2 Best Conservation: Porters Farms (Walpole) Ltd; Best Crop: Steward & Son – Oil Seed Rape – White House Farm, Dennngton; Best Livestock Enterprise: L. W. Rolph & Son – Cattle – Grove Farm, Ufford; Best Farm Diversification: Hintlesham Hall Farms - Hill Farm, Hintlesham (The Lost Garden Retreat).

Class 3 Best Conservation: E J Barker & Sons; Best Crop: R.H. Forrest & Co – Astronomer Wheat – Mowness Hall, Stonham Aspal; Best Livestock Enterprise: Euston Farms – Cattle; Best Farm Diversification: E J Barker & Sons

As well as bringing together the county's farming community, the evening was also a chance to celebrate this year's Suffolk Agricultural Apprentice of the Year - an event run by Suffolk New College.

The winner was Leon Noble, a service engineering technician apprentice employed by Agri-Equest Engineering. Runner-up was stockperson apprentice Sophia Sparkes, who is employed by Baylham Rare Breed Farm.

The SAA's Schools Show Garden Competition winners - Bawdsey primary - celebrated its winning entry in a Garden for All Seasons-themed competition. Schools were invited to create a 3m by 3m garden for the Suffolk Show.