STOCKMAN Roger Bowen has won plenty of awards in his 54 year farming career.

And now he is with a chance of another one a few months after retiring.

For Roger has been nominated for the Farming Hero title in the Three Counties Farmer Awards.

And who would deny him that title after the years of dedicate service he has given at Oakfields Farm in Kingsland, near Leominster.

Roger started his career at just 15 after his father died of a heart attack on Christmas Day and very early on spent four days and nights spent in the lambing shed without going home.

He was given a job at Oakfields Farm by the owner at the time Derek Vaughan, a man who Mr Bowen, now 69, said was a father figure and taught him everything he knows.

Mr Bowen said: “I got involved with livestock thanks to Mr Vaughan. We had a good herd of pedigree Hereford cattle.

“He was a judge and judged all over the world.

“We had a pedigree herd of livestock pigs, I took on control of them. We won no end of shows with them, and the Herefords."

Mr Bowen described the the Vaughan family as “the best people to work for”, with the farm now run by Derek’s sons Peter and James.

One of the proudest moments of his long career was in 2016 when he was handed an award by Princess Anne when he passed the 50-year mark.

The Royal Agricultural Society of England’s long service awards are presented to workers after 40 or more years with either one employer on the same or different holdings, or on the same holding with different employers.

“I was presented a long-service medal by the Princess Royal which I was very proud of,” Mr Bowen said.

“All my children and the grandchildren, were there. It was a really good day. They do a 40-year presentation as well, but 50 is the big one.

“I think the most you can do is 60 years and you win a silver cup.

“I was hoping I was going have a go at that, the trouble is the mind is willing but the body isn’t.”

But now there is another award that Roger could be in line for....

Do you know someone deserving like Roger who should be nominated for an award?

The Three Counties Farmer awards help highlight best practice in the industry and acknowledge the hard work and dedication of local businesses and staff.

Entries are open now and to nominate just go to https://www.herefordtimes.com/awards/tcf/ and fill out the online form.

Categories are: Sheep Farmer; Farm Conservation; Cattle Farmer; Family Run Farm; Pig Farmer; Young Farmer (under 26); Arable Farmer; Farming Contractor; Fruit/hop farmer.

The awards ceremony will be in digital format this year– because of coronavirus.