Andy Smith, an Agriculture student from Wincanton, has won First Prize in a prestigious national animal health competition. This is the second year in a row that a student from Bridgwater & Taunton College has won the award.

The Royal Association of British Dairy Farmers (RABDF) Farm Health Management Awards invite students from colleges and universities across the country to write an essay on animal health planning. The panel of judges included a farmer, a practicing veterinary surgeon, and the founder of the competition. The standard of entries was said to be encouraging, and Andy (pictured, left) was delighted to be invited to the ceremony at the Dairy-Tech show as a finalist, and subsequently crowned the national winner.

Andy, 35, is currently studying a Foundation Degree in Agricultural Management at the College’s Cannington campus. Andy’s tutor, Matthew Riddle, said of his achievement in the Agricultural College student category,

“This is great news, following on from the College‘s success in last year’s competition. The essay brings together the health and welfare of farm animals which are very important aspects of farm management. We are delighted that Andy won the competition and look forward to seeing if another one of our students can do the hat-trick next year.”

The course that Andy is studying is one of many industry-led courses offered by University Centre Somerset, the College’s Higher Education provision. UCS has over 1,000 students enrolled in degree-level programmes across the Bridgwater, Taunton and Cannington campuses. Find out more at our upcoming Open Evenings.

Image credit: Anthony Mosley Photographer