Following the movement restrictions covering COVID we had to put the traditional ‘Face to Face’ assessments on hold and introduce an option for remote assessments to cover applicants whose submission could be assessed via ‘Zoom’ by the two assessors.
This option worked well using a procedure approved by the Moderators Panel and the 4 Nations Panels but is no real substitute for the traditional meeting and I am pleased to report we are now back to face to face assessments but have the option to revert to Remote Assessments if restrictions require.
The process covering assessment is dependant on the support of CARAS members and on behalf of the organisation a great deal of gratitude goes to members who provide letters of sponsorship and give time to carry out the assessments. The feedback from assessors is always very helpful and as one recently said to me when asking him to carry one out ‘Happy to do this, I always enjoy (and learn something) from the CARAS Assessments’.
Associateship awarded on 2021 so far:
Mrs Kate Beavan , ARAgS – Farmer and Lecturer – Wales
Title of the Submission: Promoting Positive Perceptions of Farming for Three Decades
Mr Michael Brown , ARAgS – Farmer – England
Title of the Submission: Profitable Farm Through Seed Production
Mr David James Butler , ARAgS – Farmer – England
Title of the Submission: Enhancing Biodiversity in a Conventional Mixed Farming System
Mr Matthew Clive Dobbs , ARAgS – Veterinary Surgeon – England
Title of the Submission: Development of veterinary services to support UK Livestock Farming
Mr Richard Grant Findlay , ARAgS – Farmer – England
Title of the Submission: Developing Future Agricultural Policy and Support
Mr Jock Gibson , ARAgS – Farmer and Butcher – Scotland
Title of the Submission: Better Grass Management For Better Returns and Better Beef
Mr Gareth Griffiths , ARAgS – Director and Farmer – England
Title of the Submission: The Development of a Family Poultry Farm to a World Leading Multi-Site Egg Production and Packing Operation
Mr Alan John James , ARAgS – Farmer, Engineer and Agricultural Contractor – Wales
Title of the Submission: Four Generations of Diversification, A future For All
Miss Anna Jones , ARAgS – Journalist and Media Consultant – England
Title of the Submission: Helping or Hinder? How the mainstream media Portrays Farming to the public
Mr Brian William Paul Kaye , ARAgS – Estate Manager – Scotland
Title of the Submission: Estate Management and Conservation
Mr Michael King , ARAgS – Farmer/Company Managing Director – England
Title of the Submission: A Passion That Makes a Contribution to British Dairying
Ms Ursula Lavery , ARAgS – Technical and R&D Director – Northern Ireland
Title of the Submission: Improving Biosecurity, Health and Performance in the Poultry Industry
Mr David Lawrie , ARAgS – Farmer – Scotland
Title of the Submission: My journey with SAYFC and Beyond
Mr Seamus McCaffrey , ARAgS – Accountant/Farmer – Northern Ireland
Title of the Submission: At the Centre of the Agri-Industry
Mr Mark John McCallum , ARAgS – Farmer – Scotland
Title of the Submission: Contract Farming
Mr Ian McCluggage , ARAgS – Senior Civil Servant – Northern Ireland
Title of the Submission: Applying Farm Management Principles for Sustainable Business Development
Mr Cormac McKervey , ARAgS – Head of Agriculture Ulster Bank – Northern Ireland
Title of the Submission: Helping farmers to develop themselves and the businesses in a sustainable way
Mr Robert Percy Mercer , ARAgS – Farmer – England
Title of the Submission: Educating the Next Generation
Mrs Caroline Millar , ARAgS – Owner of The Hideaway Experience – Scotland
Title of the Submission: Selling the Farm Experience
Mr Robert Arthur Niven , ARAgS – Farmer – Scotland
Title of the Submission: Diverse Rural Retailiong To Create A Robust Farming Buisness
Mr Mark Osman , ARAgS – Farms Manager – England
Title of the Submission: Windsor Farming System
Mr Sandy (David Alexander) Ramsay , ARAgS – Retired Consultant/Manager – Scotland
Title of the Submission: Tools and Advice for Informed Business Decisions
Mr Mark Slater Robins , ARAgS – Estate Director – England
Title of the Submission: A personal contribution to the benefit of agriculture or land-based industries in the fields of research, technology, economics, education, administration, the welfare of farmers or farming communities, or the wider relationship of farming to other sectors
Mr Nicholas Saphir , ARAgS – Company Director – England
Title of the Submission: Market Opportunities
Mr Bryce Sloan , ARAgS – Farmer – Scotland
Title of the Submission: The Evolution of “The Firm Of Bryce Sloan”
Mr Michael Sly , ARAgS – Farmer – England
Title of the Submission: My farming life, the Fens, drains, sugar and spice, what a community life
Mr James Small , ARAgS – Farmer – England
Title of the Submission: Industry Representation and Communication
Mrs Ella Daphne Tilley, MBE , ARAgS – Director – Wales
Title of the Submission: Promoting Welsh Lamb
Mr Sion Eilian Williams , ARAgS – Farms Manager – Scotland
Title of the Submission: A Personal Contribution to the Benefit of Agricultural Scotland
Mr Robert Wills , ARAgS – Director – England
Title of the Submission: British Cattle – A Golden Resource
Advancement to Fellowship in 2021 so far:
Mr W.Edward Adamson, FRAgS. Northern Ireland
Mr Samuel Chesney, FRAgS. Northern Ireland
Mr Richard Elliott, CDA, NDA, FRAgS. England
Mrs Fiona Fell, BVSc, MRCVS, FRAgS. England
Mr Ian Garnett, DipAg, MRAC, FRAgS. England
The most Hon The Marquess Hertford, MRAC, DL, FRAgS. England
Mr Stephen Hughson, FRAgS. Wales
Dr Raymond Hunter, MA, MSc, MBA, FIMgt, FRAgS. Northern Ireland
Mr Dafydd Parry Jones, NDA, FRAgS. Wales
Mr Charles Matts, BSc (Hons), FRAgS. England
Mr David McKeown, BVMS, CertSHP, MRCVS, FRAgS. Northern Ireland
Mr Mark Measures, BSc (Hons.Agric), FRAgS. England
Mr Richard Tudor, BSc, FRAgS. Wales
Mr William Williams-Wynne, FRICS, FRAgS. Wales
CARAS Award Events
The cancelation of the main agricultural shows and movement restrictions meant that in 2020 no award ceremonies could be organised. As we start to see the relaxation of controls, the Welsh Panel held an award ceremony on 8th September, Ireland is having one on 23rd September, England on 5th October and Scotland are looking to hold one as soon as possible.
Who is on CARAS Council and Moderators Panel
· The Moderators Panel
The moderator’s panel normally meets formally twice a year and as required to review applications for awards. Increasing use has been made of virtual meetings over the last 18 months because of the restrictions associated with Covid.
The panel is led by the Moderator and is made up of a representative of each nation, the national chairman and the immediate past national chairman and they are responsible for the review of applications for awards.
o Moderator:
Professor E Wynne Jones OBE, BSc (Hons), PhD, Hon DSc, FIAgrE, NSch, FRAgS
o Panel Members:
§ England:
· Mr Nick Green, NSch, FRAgS
§ Northern Ireland and National Chairman:
· Mr C. John Henning, OBE, NSch, FRAgS
§ Scotland:
· Professor William McKelvey, OBE, BVMS, PhD, MRCVS, FRSE, FRAgS
§ Wales:
· Mr WI Cyril Davies, BSc (Hons), MIBiol, FRAgS
§ Immediate Past National Chairman:
· Mr James Black NSch
· Council:
The Council meets 2 times a year which is traditionally April and November with the last 3 meeting being held making use of Video links.
The Council is made up of a maximum number of 23 covering the 4 nations split as:
o 2 CARAS Fellows from each nation
o 2 Representatives of the 4 Royal Agricultural Societies
o The CARAS Chairman
o The Immediate past CARAS Chairman
o The Moderator who is Ex-officio
o The 4 members representing the nations on the Moderators panel
The membership of the Council currently is:
The National Chairman: Mr C. John Henning, OBE, NSch, FRAgS
The Moderator: Professor E Wynne Jones OBE, BSc (Hons), PhD, Hon DSc, FIAgrE, NSch, FRAgS
Representing England:
Mr Nick Green, FRAgS (Chairman, English Panel)
Mrs Milly Fyfe – (Hon. Secretary),
Miss Rosie Carne, FRAgS
Mr Jim Godfrey, OBE, FRAgS
Representing Northern Ireland:
Dr Christine Kennedy OBE, FRAgS (Chairman NI Panel)
Mr Alan Crowe – (Hon. Secretary, N. Ireland Panel)
Mr Billy Martin OBE, FRAgS (RUAS President)
Mr C. John Henning, OBE, FRAgS (National Chairman)
Representing Scotland:
Mr Willie Gill, OBE, FRAgS (Scottish Panel Chairman)
Mr Alan C. Laidlaw, FRAgS (Hon. Secretary, Scottish Panel)
Professor William A.C. McKelvey, OBE, FRAgS
Mr Christo Shepherd, FRAgS
Mr James Black, FRAgS, (Immediate past National Chairman)
Representing Wales:
Mr Emyr W. Jones, FRAgS (Chairman of Welsh Panel)
Mr Stephen Hughson, FRAgS, (Hon. Secretary, Welsh Panel)
Mrs Janet Phillips, FRAgS, (Vice-Chairman of WP)
Mr W. I. Cyril Davies, FRAg
