Ashby farmer Joe Stanley has been honoured for his dedication and commitment to the NFU and to the British farming industry.

The 2020 Meurig Raymond Award was presented to Joe at the NFU Conference dinner held at the ICC, Birmingham on Tuesday.

Joe has become a high-profile advocate for the food and farming sector.

He is a regular contributor and columnist in national newspapers and farming trade magazines.

And last summer, he hosted BBC Breakfast for a week on his farm near Ashby.

He has also just become the NFU's Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Rutland county vice chairman.

Receiving the award, Joe said: "It's a huge honour to have been given this.

"All I've done is talk about what all the NFU members have been doing for our environment and producing quality food.

"If all of us just put some attention to promoting what we do as an industry that will be such a positive message."

NFU Director General Terry Jones added: "I'm absolutely delighted for Joe who is a worthy winner of this year's Meurig Raymond Award.

"He is the embodiment of what the NFU is all about. As well as running his own farming business, he's an engaged grassroots NFU member and his local branch is enjoying a revival of activity due to his efforts to make the NFU more open and accessible to the younger generation.

"His dedication, hard work and positivity has made him a progressive voice for our industry and helped raise the profile of British farmers and what they do."

Joe was also congratulated by Leicestershire's Rural Crime time on their Facebook page.

They posted: "Joe is a local beef and arable farmer and has been hugely supportive of the North West Leicestershire rural team which we are really grateful for.

"Well done Joe and thank you for your ongoing support."