Rising agricultural star is top of the crops

A young woman with a passion for farming and agriculture has been named Rising Star of The Year by The Co-operative Food, which employs just over 80,000 people.

Lucy Mason, 29, from Hereford, picked up the award at The Co-operatives Good With Food Awards, which celebrate the great work of individuals and teams across The Co-operatives food business over the past 12 months.

Lucy, who is currently the only woman enrolled on The Co-operative Farms Fresh Produce Graduate Scheme, was voted Rising Star by her colleagues in recognition of the enthusiasm and motivation she brings to the role.

Lucy grew up on an organic dairy and vegetable farm in Little Birch, just outside Hereford. Before starting The Co-operative Farms graduate scheme, Lucy studied Rural Enterprise and Land Management at Harper Adams University College in Shropshire.

Lucy says its her farm upbringing that has inspired her. She explained: Living on a working farm as a child definitely fuelled my interest in agriculture. I initially began a career in rural surveying but quickly realised it wasnt for me. I couldnt wait to get my wellies back on and winning this award has proved that I made the right decision!

The Co-operative Farms is Britains largest farmer and its graduate scheme, which lasts for two years, gives graduates the chance to try their hand at a variety of different placements within the farming business.

As part of the scheme, Lucy has spent time working at The Co-operatives fruit farm in Blairgowrie, the Groups head office in Manchester as part of the technical team and is currently on a placement at The Co-operatives farm in Coldham, which grows a variety of crops including onions, broccoli, sugar beet, wheat and rape seed. It is also home to The Co-operatives windfarm.

Lucy says she feels extremely lucky to have been given such a great opportunity. She said: The Co-operative Farms is Britains largest farmer so the graduate scheme Im on is one of the best on offer and Im enjoying every minute of it. But The Rising Star award is simply the icing on the cake and I would like to thank all the people that Ive worked with for providing me with such great opportunities and support.

About The Co-operative Group

The Co-operative Group stands apart from other major retailers in the UK as a business, which is owned, not by a small group of shareholders, but by more than five million consumers. With core interests in food, financial services, travel, pharmacy, funerals and farms, it has an annual turnover of 14 billion, employs 120,000 staff and operates over 5,000 retail trading outlets serving more than 20 million customers per week.

Following the acquisition of the Somerfield supermarket chain in March 2009, The Co-operative Food is the fifth largest food retailer. The Co-operative Financial Services is one of the largest and most diversified financial mutual businesses, operating The Co-operative Bank, The Co-operative Insurance and Britannia.

The Co-operative is the UKs number one provider of funeral services, the third largest retail pharmacy chain, a leading travel retailer, supplying the travel needs of more than three million people annually, and is the UKs largest farmer.

Among its other businesses are The Co-operative Motor Group, The Co-operative Electrical and The Co-operative Legal Services.