On 18th March at the House of Lords Ian Pigott was named Rural Hero of 2008 for his work in implementing Open Farm Sunday. Countryside Alliance Chief Executive Simon Hart told a packed Awards reception: "This year’s Rural Hero caught the judges’ attention due to an innovative approach to supporting farming through education and promotion. Realising that misunderstanding about where our food comes from was damaging our food industry, our Hero set about changing attitudes through enabling first hand experiences for all. Simple ideas are often the best, and Farm Sunday has a simple aim: to reconnect farming with the consumer. It is a national event that opens the countryside up to a whole new audience and promotes farming in an accessible way, Farm Sunday saw over 400 farms fling open their gates at events in 2008, benefiting producers and visitors alike, and giving many of the younger generation their first experience of a farm. Ian Pigott, for dreaming up Farm Sunday you are our Rural Hero and we all applaud what you are doing for an industry that everyone in this room supports."

The Rural Hero category is new to 2008 and joins four other categories in the annual Countryside Alliance Awards. The Countryside Alliance Awards celebrate the skills, produce, traditions and enterprise of the countryside through the characters who work so hard to make it tick.

Congratulations to Ian, but congratulations also to the other shortlisted heroes of 2008. Below is the shortlist which was announced in early March.

Clarissa Dickson Wright – “Through tv shows such as “Clarissa and the Countryman” Clarissa has been a constant and fearless champion of the rural way of life. Her support of our food and farming heritage as well as country sports has been consistent, and she has been one of hunting’s most vocal supporters throughout the on-going hunting campaign. The publication of her autobiography “Spilling the Beans” put her back under the spotlight in 2008 and has endeared her to Countryside Alliance Awards voters.”

Janet Street-Porter – “Janet’s courageous support of British veal on the tv show “The F Word” attracted voter-attention, and Waitrose reported a 45% increase in sales as a result of her work. Her continued no-nonsense support of our food sector through her column in the Independent is much needed and very refreshing.”

Ian Pigott – “Hertfordshire-based Ian dreamed up Open Farm Sunday, a national event that opens the countryside up to a whole new audience and promotes farming in an accessible way. Over 400 farms held events on the third annual Farm Sunday on 1st June 2008, and Ian’s simple of idea of getting farmers to “recognize the importance and significance of reconnecting with the consumer” has become a summer must-do.”

Les Wake – “This popular young secretary of the Tockwith Show has recently become Chairman of the Federation of Yorkshire Shows. Les is a tireless champion of farming, starting initiatives such as the “Green Menu” at shows and creating a youth committee in order to retain farming’s important heritage. The nominations for Les were warm and extremely admiring of his energy and commitment – his fans feel he is a true Rural Hero.”