Sowing the seeds of his future career at Hartpury College has helped a former agriculture student win the title of 2018 Young Farmer of the Year.

Jacob Anthony, who studied a three-year Extended Diploma in Agriculture at the Gloucestershire college was crowned a national farming champion at the recent Farmers Weekly Awards

"I'm absolutely chuffed to bits," said Mr Anthony, a fifth-generation farmer who was brought up on a mixed hill farm and has taken on the responsibility of running 1,000 breeding ewes.

"I was just happy to get nominated in the first place, let alone get through to the final three and win the whole thing. I'm still on cloud nine!

"It means a lot to me and it means a lot to the family."

He said the diploma and the extensive facilities at Hartpury, which include a commercially-run farm and a modern milking parlour, had provided him with important on-the-job experience.

Proud of its "strong industry links" Hartpury is one of only a few institutions in the UK that offer this qualification with a work placement for its students. Hartpury University and Hartpury College sit alongside one another on the same 360-hectare campus.

The awards, now in their 14th year, are judged by an expert panel made up of industry specialists and previous award winners.

Of Jacob, one of the judges said: "Jacob has initiated and sought out opportunities for training and development in both technical and personal skills, employing them on the home farm to excellent effect.

"Jacob's passion for getting involved in farming politics is outstanding - one to watch out for."

Picture: Jacob Anthony (courtesy of Richard Stanton)