Derbyshire teen honoured with young farmer award
A teenage Derbyshire farmer has been honoured with a national award recognising dedicated young people working in agriculture.
William Hunt, who works on a farm in the High Peak, was among the 12 winners of 2026 Young British Farming Awards.
Sponsored by Massey Feeds and Harpers Feeds, the awards are dedicated to celebrating the next generation of agricultural trailblazers and inspiring the continued growth and development of the British farming industry for generations to come.
This year’s awards ceremony took place at Cannon Hall Farm and was hosted by prominent farmer and content creator, Tom Pemberton, with appearances from guest judges such as Charlotte Ashley and Rebecca Wilson.
William was named the Farmers Guardian Young Farming Hero, in a category sponsored by Massey Ferguson.
Organisers of the awards said: “At just 15, Derbyshire farmer William Hunt has demonstrated exceptional dedication to his family and the farm, balancing full-time education and a part-time job with an increasingly important role in the family business. Living on the family’s traditional mixed livestock farm in the Peak District, William helps care for sheep and rear calves, taking on jobs including feeding, animal health checks, lambing, calf rearing, fencing and general maintenance.
“Over the past year, William has stepped up significantly following his grandad’s diagnosis with pancreatic cancer. Getting up early before school to feed and check the calves, then returning after school to continue farm work, he has taken on responsibilities that would normally be shared across the family.
“Rather than waiting to be asked, William recognises what needs doing and gets on with it. His maturity, reliability and unwavering support have helped ease pressure on his grandparents while keeping the farm running through an incredibly difficult period.”