Our equestrian centre has been awarded the 2009 Farm Business Diversification Award by the Harewood End Agricultural Society.

Professional judges spent more than two days inspecting the many new businesses around Herefordshire and Monmouthshire that are operating as farm diversifications.  James Baird and Julia McDavid both own and run large commercial operations in West Sussex including industrial unit letting, wedding venues and the largest car boot sale site in the United Kingdom.

Trifec was judged against various diversifications amongst which were a local quarry and stone cutting operation, commercial storage and other customer service orientated businesses.  The judges were most impressed with our adaptation of existing buildings and how we had developed Beccy’s smaller business into a much larger one but maintained her attention to detail and individual customer care.  But above all, the involvement of many family members (both paid and unpaid!) within all of the different facets of Trifec was the thing that clinched us first place!

The Harewood End Agricultural Society is over 100 years old and the objectives of its membership are to “establish, maintain and conduct the Society for the Association and Advancement of persons interested in Agriculture”.  They also hold social and fund-raising events for the benefit of the Society and charities.   The Society is currently active in a number of fields! The Field and Livestock competitions are keenly fought and are concluded with a well-attended Judges’ Supper.  Farm walks and study tours are arranged both locally and further afield to provide thought-provoking ideas to benefit member’s businesses.  The Society has embarked upon an education initiative bringing hundreds of county school children onto members’ farms to give them a taste of how farmers operate and how the food they eat is grown. These efforts have been received enthusiastically by the schools and will surely expand in the coming years as their importance grows.

A table of Trifec representatives attended the Annual Dinner and Dance on Friday 6 November to accept the award and a good time was had by all!