A Borders farm is celebrating after being shortlisted for Family Farming Business of the Year this week.

Baddinsgill Farm, in West Linton, has been announced to be in the finals of the British Farming Awards 2019.

Now entering its 7th year, the British Farming Awards has become a nationally recognised event which has celebrated, showcased and rewarded hundreds of British food and drink producers doing fantastic work across the sector.

And 56 farmers and growers will battle it out for the 14 category wins up for grabs which highlight the diversity of agriculture in the UK.

Baddinsgill Farm is up against three other finalists in the Family Farming Business category.

This award recognises the families that lie at the heart of many farms, applauding the multiple generations who work together to ensure that farming has a safe and diverse future.

The local hill farm, which breeds Blackface sheep and a small fold of Highland cattle, has been in the Marshall family for over one hundred years.

And it is currently called home by four generations of the family.

Baddinsgill is owned by Gavin Marshall, who has four children with his wife Elaine, two of whom live on the farm with their spouses and three, soon to be four, grandchildren.

With Gavin’s 91-year-old mother, Catriona, also living on the property.

The Baddinsgill community further extends to include the shepherdess Josephine Holbrook, her three-year-old son Ruairidh, and many others.

Gavin’s daughter-in-law Anna Marshall commented: “We’re over the moon to be shortlisted. Hill farming is so rarely recognised at this level and we’re excited to represent biodiverse, sustainable methods of farming.

“We entered the awards because it was a great opportunity to take stock of everything we are achieving. We all spend so much time working towards our goals and forget to pause and acknowledge our progress.”

Alongside the core farm activity, the family work together to run a variety of associated businesses including a forestry enterprise and firewood and fencing supply companies.

Due to the younger generation deciding they wanted to build a closer relationship with their customers, they started selling Baddinsgill lamb and beef meat boxes online directly to consumers.

Now in its second year this business is flourishing, in large part due to a strong social media presence.

The farm aims to be open and transparent about its farming practices, educating and building trust with customers and the general public alike.

With the agricultural industry contributing more than £24 billion to the UK economy, the role of British farmers, families and rural businesses has never been so paramount.

Ben Briggs, Editor of Farmers Guardian, said: “From the smallest businesses to the larger units and from start-ups to those which are long established, the British Farming Awards is a reflection of the diversity, innovation and strength of spirit across our industry."

Four members of the family will attend the awards in Birmingham in October, where they will find out if they have won.

For more information on the awards and information on the finalists visit www.britishfarmingawards.co.uk