We’re delighted to officially announce that Oliver Dean, from Kirkhouse Farm near Brampton, is the recipient of the H&H Group Rural Matters Bursary 2026, which was officially announced at the Cumbria Farmer Awards on Friday 14th August.
The inaugural H&H Rural Matters Bursary attracted an exceptional calibre of applications from across the region, highlighting the ambition, innovation and resilience of the next generation of farmers and rural entrepreneurs. From value-added food production and direct-to-consumer marketing to pioneering livestock performance technology and on-farm education, the shortlisted projects reflected the diversity of opportunity within modern agriculture.
Following a highly competitive selection process, including a series of farm visits by the judging panel, four finalists were shortlisted for the strength of their proposals and the passion they demonstrated for their businesses.
The shortlisted projects showcased the breadth of innovation taking place across Cumbria's rural sector. They included investment in an automated egg vending system to expand direct sales; the creation of a small-scale artisan goat and sheep cheese enterprise combining food production with hands-on agricultural training; the development of a professionally branded native-breed meat box business; and an advanced automated feed efficiency monitoring system designed to improve beef cattle performance.
The inaugural H&H Rural Matters Bursary was awarded to Oliver, whose highly technical and forward-thinking proposal impressed the judging panel with both its innovation and its potential impact on the livestock industry.
Oliver's project - download video here - focuses on developing an automated on-farm feed efficiency monitoring system for beef cattle. By capturing detailed performance data for individual animals, the technology has the potential to improve breeding decisions, accelerate genetic gain and deliver long-term improvements in both profitability and sustainability for suckler herds - areas that are increasingly important to the future of UK livestock farming.
Reflecting on the outstanding quality of this year's applications, Nina Oxley, Marketing Manager at H&H Group plc, said:
"We were genuinely blown away by the standard of ideas and the ambition shown by all four shortlisted candidates. Each project demonstrated real innovation, commercial awareness and a genuine passion for securing the future of farming in Cumbria. While selecting a winner was incredibly difficult, Oliver's proposal stood out for its technical excellence, practical application and the wider benefits it could bring to the beef industry."
Oliver was delighted to receive the award and said:
"We're a family beef farm, and I've always been interested in how technology can help us farm more efficiently while improving the performance of our cattle. Winning the inaugural H&H Rural Matters Bursary is a huge encouragement. The award will help turn this idea into reality and allow me to begin developing and testing the equipment. I'm incredibly grateful to H&H for believing in my project, and I hope it will make a real difference to the future of beef farming."
Glyn Lucas, Dairy Sales Manager at H&H, added:
"It was extremely difficult to choose a winner from such an outstanding group of finalists. What impressed us all was not only the level of innovation, but the determination of each applicant to build a successful, sustainable future within the rural economy. The quality of this year's entries gives us great confidence that the future of our industry is in very capable hands."
Aimed at young farmers - aged approximately 25-35 years who were looking to develop their skills, education, or farming businesses through practical projects, training, or investment – the bursary was created as part of H&H Group's commitment to supporting the future of rural businesses and agriculture. Oliver received £3,000 from H&H Group plc, with his winning project showcased to more than 200 guests during a specially produced video at the Cumbria Farmer Awards held at Carlisle Racecourse, celebrating the innovation and talent shaping the future of Cumbrian agriculture.
Applications for the 2027 H&H Rural Matters Bursary will open in in the New Year.