Farming Enterprise Showered with Awards
A Staffordshire farming family has been honoured regionally and nationally for its entrepreneurship in the food and farming industry.
The Barnes family have diversified Packington Moor Farm in Lichfield to include a profitable farm shop, café and events venue as well as continuing to manage their 750 acres of sheep and arable farmland.
They were recognised for this nationally at the recent Farmers Weekly Awards where they scooped the highly coveted Diversification Farmer of the Year accolade. The Barnes family were presented their award by Countryfile co-host Matt Baker in front of 1,500 guests at a glittering ceremony at The Grosvenor House Hotel in London on Thursday 6 October.
John and Rosemary Barnes run the business alongside their daughter Grace, who is responsible for the farm shop and café, son Henry who manages the bulk of the farming and Henry’s fiancée Jo Wilson who runs Packington Moor Events successfully marketing their 18th century Oat Barn as a wedding venue.
Grace Barnes said: “It is fantastic to bring this national industry award to Staffordshire. It is also an incredible accolade for the family, many see diversification as the future of British agriculture and this award puts the Barnes family alongside some world class farmers.”
To add to their Farmers Weekly award success, the business also came away with three prizes at the annual Taste of Staffordshire Awards which were held on Monday 10 October at Staffordshire Showground. Packington Moor Farm Shop were runners up in Tea Room of the Year, NFU Local Food Champion and Retailer of the Year.
Packington Moor Farm Shop is a member of food group HEART of ENGLAND fine foods (HEFF) and as well as stocking the shop with their own farm produce, they source a range of food and drink from other local producers. It is the newest of the ventures having opened in 2009 and comprises a full butchery, deli and 60-80 seater café.
“The family has worked incredibly hard over the last 20 plus years to turn Packington Moor Farm into a unique and successful business. Winning these awards really is testament to Mum and Dad’s courage and vision,” said Grace.
“Although successful we have always stuck to our roots and tried hard to represent our original ethos providing an honest, good value service. If we cannot produce it ourselves, we try to source as locally as possible supporting our local communities and educating our customers in where their food comes from.”
One such opportunity will be on Friday 18 and Saturday 19 November which is the Packington Moor Farm Christmas Shopping Event. Local producers will be offering tastings and the shop will be full of festive inspiration for gifts and cooking and there will be a special 10% discount on all shopping.
Children can also get involved over the Hallowe’en week when there will be a range of activities in the farm shop and a ‘Fearsome Menu’ in the café.
For more information visit www.packingtonmoorfarm.co.uk.