Budge sisters win national farming award

TWO sisters who run an established farm in Shetland’s south mainland have won a prize at this year’s BBC Food and Farming Awards.

Aimee and Kirsty Budge, of Bigton Farm, enjoyed success in the 2018 Farming Hero category of the national awards in Bristol on Wednesday night.

Writing on the farm’s Facebook page, the sisters said they were “absolutely delighted” with the win.

“Thank you for all your support and well done to the other nominees,” they added.

In the last couple of years Aimee and Kirsty took on the role of being Shetland’s only ‘monitor farm’ as part of a nationwide programme focusing on practical demonstrations, the sharing of best practice and the discussion of up-to-date issues.

The Budge sisters starting running the farm themselves after their father Bryden died in a tragic accident in 2014.

Presenter of BBC show Countryfile Adam Henson said: “Kirsty and Aimee have not just stepped into the shoes of their father, they are pioneering farming in Shetland and if I could hire them I would.”

The award win was recognised far and wide in Shetland, with council leader Steven Coutts writing on his personal Twitter account that the sisters are a “credit to their industry and community”.

Aimee and Kirsty were featured on Countryfile in May in connection to the award, which took in nominations from the public.