ROBERT Gilder has been named Most Promising Young Farmer by the Gloucestershire Root Fruit & Grain Society.

The 26-year-old from Astonon- Carrant, near Tewkesbury, collected his trophy, donated by the Greaves family of Conderton, at the society’s dinner and prize presentations at Gloucester Rugby Club.

Rob obtained his HND at Harper Adams Agricultural College before spending a year in New Zealand, returning to the family arm to work with his parents, Nick and Jan.

“Obviously I am very proud and delighted to have been granted the award,” he said.

On the farm he helps with the 600 ewes, selling the lambs through the May Hill Producer Group, and the 120 beef suckler herd with the calves weaned at 12 months and sold through Cirencester Market.

Rob also does relief milking for the Miller family at Greville Hall Farm in Hinton-on-the- Green, near Evesham, recent winners of the Gold Cup, the top award for dairy farms in the country, and drives tractors for agricultural contractor Phil Odham, of Cheltenham.

President Roger Bush, welcoming a record number to the event, said: “It bodes well for the society.

“We have had a difficult year all round on our farms and it is fantastic we have had so many entries for our competitions.

“It is good to see new people coming in and winning prizes.”

Robin Smith, chairman, said the society would be celebrating its 150th year in 2013 and a number of special events were being planned, including a chairman’s lunch and auction of promises on Sunday, June 2, an estate visit and a tillage event at Boddington Estate in September.

He thanked the secretary and treasurer Samantha Pennington for all her hard work, the committee, and stewards and judges, all of whom, he said, has contributed to a successful year