A national awards scheme recognising the next generation of British agriculture is now officially open for entries and nominations, as the Young British Farming Awards returns for a third year.
The 2026 ceremony will take place on 19 September at Cannon Hall Farm, a venue closely associated with farming television and innovation. The location previously hosted the 2023 British Farming Awards, where Cannon Hall Farm was named Content Creator of the Year.
Sponsored by Massey Feeds and Harpers Feeds, the awards aim to spotlight young people who are shaping the future of British farming through hard work, innovation, and leadership. Organisers say the scheme continues to grow in both scale and influence as the industry looks to support a new generation facing rapid economic, environmental, and technological change.
This year’s awards were formally launched at LAMMA 2026, with the announcement led by Kaleb Cooper and Tom Pemberton. Pemberton has hosted the awards since their inception, while Cooper has become an increasingly prominent advocate for young people entering agriculture.
Cooper, who rose to national attention through Clarkson’s Farm, introduced his own category in 2025 — the Kaleb Cooper New Entrant Award — designed to recognise individuals taking their first steps into the industry.
Speaking at the launch, Cooper said it was a privilege to be involved, but stressed that the focus should remain firmly on the young farmers themselves. He told attendees that his ambition since appearing on television had been to encourage more young people to see agriculture as a viable and rewarding career.
“Hopefully it will be bigger and better than last year, and we’re going to keep growing this,” he said. “Since I was on Clarkson’s Farm for the first time in series one, I made myself a goal — to try and get as many young people into this industry as possible. I genuinely believe it’s the best job in the world.”
He added that the awards play a vital role in recognising effort that often goes unseen. “These youngsters are working incredibly hard, and they need rewarding. This is a great place to do that.”
Reflecting the expansion of the scheme, the number of categories has increased from eight to 12 for 2026. New and returning awards include Junior and Senior Young Handler of the Year, Young Farmers’ Club of the Year, Young Innovator of the Year, and the Farmers Guardian Young Farming Hero Award, alongside categories celebrating livestock, arable, and mixed farming excellence.
The awards are organised by Agriconnect, the parent company of Farmers Guardian, Arable Farming, and Dairy Farmer. Organisers say the goal is not only to recognise individual success but also to promote long-term growth and resilience across the agricultural sector.
Entries and nominations are now open via the official Young British Farming Awards website, with organisers encouraging farmers, educators, and industry professionals to put forward young people who are making a meaningful contribution to British agriculture.
