Suffolk farmers expressed pride and delight last night as they picked up the county's top agricultural awards at a glittering evening ceremony.

They faced tough competition at Suffolk Agricultural Association's (SAA) annual awards event to be crowned winners in the small, medium and large farm categories.

This year's coveted trophy winners were the McVeigh family at Kenton Hall, near Debenham, the Owen family at Occold Hall Farms near Eye and the Elveden Estate near Thetford, which is owned by the Earl of Iveagh.

Success at the event - held at Trinity Park, Ipswich, on Thursday, October 24 - is the pinnacle of farm achievement in the county.

Lucy Davenport - part of the second generation Copperfield Enterprises farm business at Kenton Hall - expressed delight as the business scooped the top prize in the small farms Class 1 Farms up to 250ha category.

"‘We are really chuffed to have won the Class 1 award. This evening has bought together some brilliant farmers from across the county showcasing great British farming," she said.

Her brother Tom McVeigh - who took over the farm management four years ago - said they were "ecstatic". "We are incredibly surprised and grateful," he said.

All the award winners gather on stage (Image: Stephen Waller) However, this season was looking like another tough one for the farm, he added, with autumn drilling held up by the damp weather.

He was involved in bi-cropping which was more involved, he added, and he still had half his crop to drill - which had implications for establishment and yield.

Richard Owen of Occold Hall Farms - which was crowned winner in the medium farm Class 2 between 251 and 500ha category - expressed surprise and delight. He was at the awards with son, Jack, and it was the first time they had entered.

"I was absolutely shocked," he said. "I didn't see it coming - but a nice surprise. It makes it all worthwhile."

Elveden Estate managing director Andrew Blenkiron - who took up his role this year after moving across from the nearby Euston Estate - said he was proud of everyone in the team at Elveden Farms after it took the big farm Class 3 Farms of 501ha and over title

"We are delighted and elated," he said. "Being involved with such an incredible, enthusiastic and dedicated team is such a privilege.  Our table just didn’t want to leave, reflecting our win - indeed we were certainly the last to leave."

Elveden senior farms manager Nick Scantlebury added: "I think it's a great reward for the effort that the team put in in a very challenging year."

Each year judges are brought in from outside Suffolk - this year they travelled in from Essex and Cambridgeshire - in order to ensure objectivity.

Entrants are assessed on the whole business and management of the farms, with judges considering enterprise management, marketing, employment and investment strategy. 

They are also judged on the sustainability of their businesses - including product development, diversification and long-term development.

Other factors include the farm’s social and community involvement including local education, public land use or employment activities. 

Class 1 runners up were JH Vaudrey & Son of Woodhall, Eye, in second place and ACC Green of Red House Farm, Badingham, near Woodbridge, which came third.

Class 2 second place winners were Porters Farms (Walpole) of Hill House Farm and LW Rolph & Son of Grove Farm, Ufford, Woodbridge, took third place.

Class 3 runners up were Rougham Estate Farms near Bury St Edmunds and Troston Farms of Park Farm, Stanton, Bury St Edmunds, came third.

Other awards categories were also celebrated.

The Suffolk Rising Star Scholarship Award went to Will Pratt of Hollow Trees Farm at Semer, near Hadleigh.

Aaron Beckett of Thurlow Nunn Standen was crowned Suffolk Allied Agricultural Apprentice of the Year and Jack Wood of Home Farm (Nacton) took the Suffolk Agricultural Apprentice of the Year title.

Foskett Willows of Bromeswell, Woodbridge, was crowned Class 4 Specialist Agricultural Contractor. OJ Neil Contracting of Chedburgh, Bury St Edmunds, was second, and MJD Agri Services of Stowmarket came third.

Schools were also celebrated. Mendham Primary took the Schools Show Garden Competition, beating back competition from 21 other schools for its Olympic Garden-themed show garden design at the Suffolk Show.

Stoke-by-Nayland Primary was crowned Suffolk Farming School of the Year for their efforts related to learning about healthy soils.