Smithfield Bicentenary Trophy awarded to Farmers Fresh Chairman, Terry Bayliss
Terry Bayliss (centre) pictured with L-R Richard Saunders (Club Secretary), Phil Henshaw (Club Steward), Jake Roberts (grandson of Mr Bayliss) & Geoff Burgess (Club Deputy President)
The Royal Smithfield Club’s Bicentenary Trophy for 2019 has been awarded to Terry Bayliss, Chairman of lamb processor Farmers Fresh and a well-known personality in farming circles throughout the border counties of England and Wales. 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 on Sunday 17th November 2019.
The Award was presented in front of a packed ring at the conclusion of the Duke of Norfolk Trophy judging on Sunday 17 November at the English Winter Fair, Stafford
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 recognize an individual’s or company’s significant contribution to the overall benefit of the British Meat and Livestock Industry.
This year’s winner, Mr Bayliss, was nominated by Mr 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 2,700 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 in excess of £70 million, 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 over fifty 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.
NOTES
1. The Royal Smithfield Club Bicentenary Trophy celebrates the bi-centenary of the founding of the Smithfield Club in 1798. The trophy is awarded each year to a person or organisation deemed to have made a significant contribution to the UK meat industry. Recipients can be from any part of the industry - from livestock producers through education, research, processing to retailing.
2. Terry Bayliss is the 20th recipient of the annual award which includes the presentation of the Club’s Armada Shield. The winner receives the trophy, a solid silver Armada Shield, set with 25 gold sovereigns donated by benefactors including from the late Queen Mother who was a huge supporter of the Club.