THE inaugural Cumbria Farmer Awards will be judged by a panel of respected experts from a wide spectrum of backgrounds. Headed by Andrew Robinson, partner and head of agriculture and farming at Carlisle-based business advisers and accountants Armstrong Watson, our headline sponsors, who are also sponsoring a further category, the Lifetime Achievement Award, as well as the drinks reception. Andrew will be partnered in the search to find farming’s unsung heroes, by Alistair Mackintosh, west Cumbrian beef and sheep farmer and chairman of Red Tractor Assurance, as well as the National Farmers Union Cumbrian council delegate; Ian Bowness, Aspatria dairy farmer and NFU county chairman’; Agricultural Partner at David Allen Accountants in Dalston, Michael Peile; Julia Aglionby, Armathwaite farmer and Executive Director of the Foundation for Common Land; Lois Mansfield, Professor of Upland Landscapes, and Director of Ambleside Campus; Sharon Sloan, Lely Center Longtown general man