Are you Devon’s next ‘Best Family Farm’?

For Andrew Branton, the evening itself stands out as much as the trophy.

“It was just a really enjoyable evening,” he says. “It’s always good to get together with positive people.”

But the impact of entering, and winning, went beyond the awards night.

“The whole process was a great experience for our children Izzy and Matthew,” he explains. “Having to explain to the judges what we’re trying to achieve made us all step back and think about it. It brought things into focus and gave them a real boost.”

That clarity has proved valuable over the past 12 months. In the run up to last year’s awards, the Brantons spoke about “growing smarter, not bigger”, focusing on efficiency, careful investment and creating opportunities for the next generation.

From celebration to momentum

A year on, their plan continues, although, as ever in farming, with a degree of flexibility.

“We’re still working to the same plan,” Andrew says, “but we’ve had to tweak things a bit because of milk volume constraints.”

The family’s ambition to grow the herd and strengthen the business remains firmly in place though.

“We’ve never been against getting bigger and that is the plan as the next generation gets more involved,” he says. “It’s about making the most of what we have and building resilience into the business.”

Looking back, Andrew is clear about what gives him most pride.

“We seem to have built something that not only our children want to be part of, but their partners do too, and that means a lot.”

That sense of shared purpose is exactly what the Best Family Farm category celebrates.

Recognition matters

Recognition from peers and industry judges has also brought encouragement.

“Quite a few people, both in and outside farming, have said some really kind things since we won, which is always nice,” he says. “Although you’re only ever as good as your last result!”

Andrew sees the award not as an endpoint, but as acknowledgement of the effort that goes into building a sustainable family business, something he believes more farms should feel confident about showcasing.

“There are so many family farms out there working incredibly hard to build stronger businesses for the future,” he says. “You’ve got nothing to lose by entering. It was an honour to win and it’s just recognition for the effort that everyone puts in day to day.”

Entries are open for this year’s Devon Farm Business Awards, sponsored by Cornish Mutual, and the Brantons’ message is simple: if you are building for the future, investing in efficiency, planning succession and working together as a family, it is worth putting yourself forward.

Apply now

The Best Family Farm category is designed to celebrate multi-generational businesses with strong teamwork, succession planning and a clear vision for the future.

Whether your farm is growing steadily, passing responsibility to the next generation, or simply making steady progress year by year, this is an opportunity to reflect on what you’ve achieved and share it with the wider farming community.

But don’t delay, entries close on Friday 13 March 2026. To find out more, visit:
https://www.farmbusinessawards.org.uk/nominate-now-devon/best-family-farm