A YFC member from Lancashire has won two awards – including Overall Learner of the Year – at the second annual Land-based & Environment Learner (LBEL) Awards.
Erin Wright, a member of Samlesbury YFC, was named Agriculture FE Learner of the Year and took home the top accolade of Overall Learner of the Year.
The LBEL Awards recognise the achievements of students in the agricultural and environmental sectors. They are a partnership between Lantra, the leading land-based training body, and Landex, the representative body for land-based colleges and universities.
The national awards ceremony, held in November at the National Conference Centre in Birmingham, brought together outstanding learners from across the UK.
Erin’s dedication and hard work were recognised following her nomination by a former tutor at Askham Bryan College and was chosen as the Overall winner out of nearly 200 nominations.
Erin studied agriculture with a livestock pathway at college and is now working on a degree apprenticeship in Business and Management with Morrisons at their abattoir and meat processing site.
Erin, who is also involved in her family’s beef and sheep farm, said:
“I was elated and proud to have won. It was surreal. I didn’t even realise there was an overall award, so to be called out for that was special.
“It feels great to have been advocated for because I believe my tutor had to put quite a lengthy nomination form forward. They had to think about what I have done and what I achieved, and how I fit in. It just feels nice to be appreciated.”
The Overall Learner of the Year celebrates people with passion and direction and rewards those who they see as pushing the next generation forwards.
While Erin is keen to always have a presence on her family farm, she’s also excited about developing her meat processing career.
“I’d like to stay involved in meat processing as it’s the next stage. It’s really satisfying for me to be able to see livestock at home and take care of them and then see how you can get them to grow and become a product,” explained Erin. “At work I am focused on the other end, where it becomes a product fit for a consumer. I’m passionate about providing food for people.”
Commenting on the Awards Ceremony, Prof John Moverley OBE, Chair of Judges for the LBEL Awards, said:
“It’s been another fantastic year where we have been able to celebrate the success of learners and apprentices within our sector.
We had 196 nominations this year, which was brilliant! There are so many inspiring stories from nominations and it’s an honour to be able to celebrate their achievements and passion this evening. Congratulations to all winners and finalists!”
For more information about the LBEL Awards, see here.
