SRUC Aberdeen student wins top accolade in 17th annual Farmers Club Pinnacle Awards
SRUC Aberdeen student Ross Learmonth is the first student from a Scottish agricultural college or university to win the prestigious Pinnacle Award for Farm Business Management skills.
Pinnacle Awards 2014
SRUC Aberdeen student Ross Learmonth is the first student from a Scottish agricultural college or university to win the prestigious Pinnacle Award for Farm Business Management skills.
Now in its 17th successful year the award is organised by the Farmers Club and ADAS with generous sponsorship from the Cave Foundation.
In a closely fought contest business management skills were assessed by means of a detailed course-work report, panel interview and formal presentation at the Farmers Club in London.
Ross impressed the judges with his robust and well thought out business case study, his strong interview performance and a particularly engaging and clear final presentation.
The award was presented by guest of honour Ian Piggott, a Hertfordshire arable farmer who created Open Farm Sunday and is now a Farmers Weekly columnist and chairman of FACE.
The judging team comprised chairman of judges Prof David Leaver, ADAS consultant Tony Turner, Farmers Club chairman Jimmy McLean, Farmers Club past chairman and Cave Foundation representative Roy Walker, and Farmers Club Journal editor Charles Abel.
The Gold award, Nickerson Cup and a cheque for £2000 went to Ross Learmonth, SRUC Aberdeen.
The Silver award and a cheque for £1000 went to Will Brown, University of Reading.
The Bronze award and a cheque for £600 went to Beth Duchesne, Harper Adams.
All finalists were given one-year membership of the Farmers Club, while their college/university received a cheque for £300 each.
The five runners-up were:
- Jacqui Manning, Bridgwater College
- Greg Stevens, Bridgwater College
- David Whitfield, Askham Bryan
- Joe Williams, SRUC Ayr
- Alistair Wright, University of Nottingham
