A teenager from Suffolk who is ploughing his way towards a successful career in agriculture is up for a national farming award.
Harry Lugsden, 19, from Eye, is hoping to be crowned learner of the year in the annual Land Based & Environment Learner Awards on 27 November 2025.
The glitzy do – that will be held at the National Conference Centre in Solihull in a partnership with Lantra and Landex – will see young talent go tractor to tractor in the hope of winning this prestigious accolade.
Now in its third year, the annual awards programme recognises outstanding learners from further education (FE), higher education (HE), and apprenticeships, from across England and Northern Ireland.
Harry – who is a former student of Suffolk New College’s Suffolk Rural campus – currently works as a self-employed sheep shearer, as well as earning his corn as an employee of Robert Spink and Dunhill Farms Ltd.
And he had praise for both his former place of study and his current place of work, in terms of their support.
Harry said: “I’m up against five others and I’m looking forward to the awards. The college arranged for my work placement at the farm, where I ended up getting a job. My whole time there was beneficial and it has helped me get to where I am. Everyone at Dunhill Farms Ltd have also been incredibly supportive.”
In terms of his thoughts on winning the national award, Harry added: “It’s cool to be nominated, and it would be amazing to win.”
Lynsey Wilson is the director for land-based, equine and the Suffolk Centre for Culinary Arts at Suffolk New College. She said: “Huge congratulations to Harry. He was a brilliant student who worked hard and represented the college on many occasions, including being interviewed by the BBC twice at The Suffolk Show. We wish him all the best at the upcoming awards and we are incredibly proud of him.”
This year’s awards are sponsored by Land-based Assessment Ltd., Interflora, and the Co-op. For more information about Suffolk Rural College, you can visit www.suffolk.ac.uk