Myerscough learner wins Agriculture Student of the Year in Cumbria Farmer Awards

Luke Edmondson was announced as the winner in the category of Agriculture/Rural Skills Student of the Year in the ceremony last week.

Luke is a Level 3 agriculture student at Myerscough College, moving away from his home, at the family farm at Levens, at the age of 16 to pursue his dream career.

Farming is in Luke’s blood. From a young age he has been involved in a number of key responsibilities on the family farm, and has always been interested in the farming and agriculture industries.

17-year-old Luke is an exceptional student. In addition to having to adapt to living away from home for the first time, and the challenges that poses, he produces class work and assignments to the best of his abilities, along with carrying out some additional reading and research relevant to the course.

Luke is a fourth-generation young farmer, with his family operating four farms across Cumbia - two at Crook, one at Flookburgh and the home farm at Levens. In recent years the business has significantly diversified, and Luke is heavily involved with a number of aspects, including a haylage business, livestock rearing, wood chipping and biomass to name but a few.

Taking the haylage business as just one example, Luke has taken it upon himself to really lead and drive growth and productivity. From tedding, to wrapping, through to delivery and customer service, he does it all, and so many customers speak highly of him, a testament to his commitment to the sector.

Luke also assists with the rearing of dairy heifers, from ten days old to in-calf, as the livestock rearing side if the family business has grown significantly in recent times.

Away from farm life, Luke is also very proficient with riding horses, and in summer 2024 came 4th in the Working Hunter Pony Championship event at the Agria Royal International Horse Show at Hickstead. Luke is quite unforthcoming about this extra amazing talent, and often doesn’t tell people about it – including friends and college staff!

In the future Luke would like to spend two seasons in Australia and New Zealand, developing his knowledge then he hopes he can add to the family businesses as he has lots of ideas.

Luke is self-motivated, confident, and as a young man, passionate about making a lasting impression and difference to his beloved sector.

Meanwhile, fellow Myerscough student Amy Wilson was also named a finalist in the same category.

A born and bred Cumbrian, Amy has been studying an Extended Level 3 Diploma in Agriculture at our centre based at Ullswater College in Penrith, completing her programme with high grades this summer.

The awards are organised by Newsquest Cumbria.

Hailed as one of the best nights out in the county’s farming calendar, the awards showcase some of the county’s most outstanding food producers and landscape custodians. And alongside traditional farming sectors, such as dairy, beef, sheep and machinery, the awards also recognised students, agricultural businesses, and women in agriculture.

The awards ceremony was held in Wigton on Friday.