A LOCAL farmer who has rented a Devon County Council smallholding and turned it into a dynamic and successful business producing high quality beef, pork and chicken, some of which is retailed in partnership with a top London restaurant, is this year's winner of the John Neason Award for Progressive Farming.

Barny Butterfield, who trades as Sandford Orchards at Lower Park Farm, Fordton, Crediton is the winner of the award, which is made under the auspices of the Devon County Agricultural Association for farmers in Devon who have found exciting and innovative ways of improving their businesses.

Barny (33), who was previously a poultry stockman and manager, went into farming on his own account in 2003 producing organic chicken.

He gradually expanded the enterprise and in 2009 took on the tenancy of a 90 acre Devon County Council Smallholding.

He now has a range of different enterprises, including Red Ruby beef and Gloucester Old Spot pigs, as well as cider and fruit juices, all under-pinned by the free range and organic chicken.

Barny will be presented with his award, and the £750 prize, at this year's Devon County Show, which will be held at Westpoint, near Exeter, on May 20, 21 and 22.

Barny said that he was delighted to have won the award.

He added: "What is especially pleasing is that it recognises the combination that we have tried to achieve, of being highly productive farmers with a range of different enterprises, with an innovative approach to marketing our products.

"As a small farm, we have had to find ways of adding value. That begins in the field, with the crops that we grow and the animals that we rear, but it extends all the way to the steak on a diner's plate."

What is particularly unusual and innovative about the business is the fact that Barny has secured his markets by forming partnerships with his two biggest customers.

He is a partner in a top-class London restaurant which buys beef, pork and chicken from the farm and is co-owner of a meat cutting business, also in London, to which he supplies his own beef and beef from other local farmers.

"I'm a great believer in partnership in the food chain", he explains, "but I wanted to forge genuine partnerships, not just one-way streets. This way, we can adjust to the needs of the farm, as well as to the requirements of customers and hopefully strike a balance which keeps everyone happy."

The Chairman of the Judging Panel, Mark Neason, said: "Although the competition was very strong, it was Mr Butterfield's innovative approach to the business of farming and willingness to become involved, not just in the supply chain but an end user business which gave him the edge.

"Mr Butterfield's other great enthusiasm is orchards and cider. He has planted cider apple trees on some of the land he is renting from Devon County Council, and also buys apples from several other local farmers to produce his cider.

Production is growing rapidly, and with a deal with a Cypriot importer in the offing, he plans to expand to 50,000 litres a year by 2011. A licensed farm shop is also being developed.

All of this entrepreneurial activity means that Barny has created jobs for six members of staff, something which particularly impressed the judges, given that the whole of the farming business extends to no more than 125, mostly rented, acres.

The runners-up for the awards were Dartmoor Farmers, a marketing group of 41 moorland farmers, who have developed a Dartmoor brand to add value to beef and lamb, which is retailed both direct and to the retail and catering trade, with a strong link to the tourism sector.