Terry Bayliss, chairman of lamb processor Farmers Fresh and a well-known personality in farming circles throughout the border counties of England and Wales, has won The Royal Smithfield Club’s Bicentenary Trophy for 2019.

The trophy was presented to him by Geoff Burgess, deputy president of the Royal Smithfield Club, at the English Winter Fair in Stafford, at the conclusion of the judging of the Duke of Norfolk Trophy.

The award was established in 1998 to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the founding of the Smithfield Club in 1798, and is a national award to publicly recognise an individual’s or company’s significant contribution to the overall benefit of the British Meat and Livestock Industry.

Terry Bayliss, was nominated by Glyn Roberts, president of The Farmers Union of Wales (FUW), in recognition of his role in establishing Farmers Fresh Ltd and the farming co-operative, Farmers First, which is owned by 2700 farmer shareholders.

The business is focused on working for famers throughout the UK in exporting in excess of one million premium-end lamb carcases per year. The company, which now has an annual turnover of in excess of £70m, has been instrumental in maintaining market prices, of benefit to many farmers in the UK.

The phenomenal success-story began in 1998 when Terry, along with five others, formed 'Farmers Ferry' with the aim to export lambs to the continent. After the acquisition of a slaughter house in Kenilworth, Warwickshire, in 2000, which now has more than 50 employees, the name was changed to Farmers Fresh. Farmers Fresh Wales further expanded its market share in 2017 when it bought Fairfield Meats, Wrexham.

Announcing the award, club secretary Richard Saunders said that Mr Bayliss’s vision had been instrumental in achieving premium prices for UK farmers producing quality British lamb. Citing the nomination, he said that this exceptional success must be due, to a significant degree, to the drive and ability of Mr Bayliss.

ENDS

PHOTOGRAPH CAPTION

2019 Royal Smithfield Club Bicentenary Trophy winner Terry Bayliss (centre) with L-R Richard Saunders (RSC Secretary), Phil Henshaw (RSC Steward), Jake Roberts (grandson of Mr Bayliss) & Geoff Burgess (RSC Deputy President)