Seven Farmers Honoured at the M&S Select Farm Awards
M&S has recognised seven exceptional farmers across the island at this year’s M&S Select Farm Awards, held during the Balmoral Show on Wednesday 13th May.
The awards shine a spotlight on excellence in agriculture, with a strong focus on sustainability, innovation, welfare and the next generation of farming talent.
Through its Plan A for Farming 2030 strategy, M&S continues to work closely with its Select Farmers to build long-term resilience across the agricultural sector – supporting farmers to invest, innovate and adopt more sustainable and regenerative farming practices.
The 2026 winners represent a cross-section of the M&S supply base – including beef, lamb poultry and eggs – and each has demonstrated an outstanding commitment to raising standards and delivering best-in-class farming.
Emerging Talent Award: Rhys Mitchell – Beragh, Co. Tyrone
Rhys Mitchell, a young egg farmer from Beragh near Omagh, has been named Emerging Talent Award winner at the 2026 M&S Select Farm Awards at Balmoral Show.
At just 24, he was recognised as one of Northern Ireland’s rising stars in agriculture for his commitment, leadership and hands-on approach to modern farming.
Rhys plays a key role in his family’s dairy and poultry enterprise, including managing a refurbished free-range laying barn supplying M&S through Skea Eggs.
Rhys said: “It’s a real honour to receive this award from M&S. Farming is something I’ve always been passionate about, and I enjoy being involved in every part of the business. It’s great to see the work and effort recognised.”
Only at M&S Award: Patrick McKenna – Co. Monaghan
Patrick McKenna, a poultry farmer from County Monaghan, has been recognised at the 2026 M&S Select Farm Awards at Balmoral Show.
He won the ‘Only at M&S’ Award for his exceptional standards in producing Oakham Turkey for M&S in partnership with Grove Turkeys.
Based near Tydavnet, he operates eight poultry barns across two sites, including six brooding units and two high-welfare finishing units, supporting consistent quality and high welfare standards across the business.
Patrick said: “Winning the award is a big deal for us. Day to day, you’re focused on doing the job right and looking after the birds, so you don’t always step back and think about it. To get recognition like that means a lot.”
Welfare Excellence Award: Seamus & Adele Lennon – Co. Armagh
Seamus and Adele Lennon, a poultry farming couple from County Armagh, have been recognised at the 2026 M&S Select Farm Awards at Balmoral Show for their commitment to animal welfare.
They won the Welfare Excellence Award for the exceptionally high standards maintained in producing Oakham Gold chicken for M&S through Grove Turkeys Ltd.
The family-run farm operates two poultry units, with Seamus and Adele managing all day-to-day work themselves, alongside a small beef enterprise run with their son. With over 20 years’ experience, they continue to invest in housing and facilities to maintain the highest welfare standards.
Seamus Lennon said: “We are very honoured and delighted to win the award. You don’t get this type of thing lightly and we’ve put a lot of hard work into the business over the years.”
Environmental Champion Award: Ian Trimble – Donaghamore, Co. Tyrone
Ian Trimble, a free-range egg farmer from County Tyrone, has been named Environmental Champion at the 2026 M&S Select Farm Awards at Balmoral Show.
Farming near Donaghmore with his family, he was recognised for reducing the farm’s environmental footprint while enhancing biodiversity and animal welfare across their 30,000 free-range hens supplying M&S via Skea Eggs.
Ian has also led major investment in renewable energy, including solar panels, wind power and biomass heating, helping to reduce fossil fuel use and futureproof the business.
Ian said: “It’s nice to be put forward by Skea Eggs for the award and then to be recognised by M&S as well. We know that caring for the environment is important, so to receive an award that reflects the work and investment we’ve made to reduce our environmental footprint is very rewarding.”
Innovation Award: Oliver & Pauline McKenna – Eskra, Co. Tyrone
Oliver and Pauline McKenna, a farming family from Eskra near Omagh, have won the Innovation Award at the 2026 M&S Select Farm Awards at Balmoral Show.
They were recognised for their progressive approach to beef farming, with a strong focus on improving efficiency, sustainability and overall herd performance.
The County Tyrone farm rears around 450 calves annually for ABP and M&S alongside a 40-cow suckler herd, with a strong reputation for grassland management, genetics and sustainable, forage-led beef production.
Oliver said: “We’re delighted to receive this award from M&S. Farming is constantly evolving and we’re always trying to improve how we do things, whether that’s through better genetics, improved grassland management or taking part in programmes that help us learn and develop the business further.”
Produce Excellence Award: Tim O’Malley – Co. Armagh
Tim O’Malley, of O’Malley Berry Co. in County Armagh, has been recognised at the 2026 M&S Select Farm Awards at Balmoral Show, winning the Produce Excellence Award.
He was recognised for his commitment to quality, sustainability and innovation, as well as for bringing locally grown strawberries to M&S stores across Northern Ireland for the first time.
Since establishing his strawberry-growing operation in 2024, Tim has significantly expanded the business, adding 20 growing tunnels and increasing capacity to 100,000 plants on site.
Tim said: “It’s a real honour to receive the Produce Excellence Award from M&S, especially at such an exciting time for the business. Bringing locally grown strawberries to M&S stores across Northern Ireland for the first time is something we’re incredibly proud of, and it reflects the hard work the whole team has put in.”
Royal Countryside Fund Family Farm Award: James & Rachel Davison – Glenarm, Co. Antrim
James and Rachel Davison, a farming couple from Glenarm, have been recognised at the 2026 M&S Select Farm Awards at Balmoral Show, winning the Royal Countryside Fund Family Farm Award.
Based in County Antrim, they were recognised for building a successful multi-enterprise farm focused on high animal welfare standards, knowledge sharing and supporting the future of Northern Ireland agriculture.
The family rear 2,500 calves annually for ABP and M&S, alongside sheep and beef and broiler enterprises, with a strong focus on welfare underpinning the success of the business.
James Davison said: “We’re very proud of the welfare standards we have on the farm. Welfare underpins the success of the whole business because if we rear healthy calves with good welfare, they’ll thrive and perform well, and that makes it easier for us to achieve our other goals too.”
Peter Kennedy, Head of Agriculture & Fisheries at M&S, said: “These winners reflect the strength, resilience and ambition within our Select Farm community. From environmental leadership and innovation to welfare excellence and emerging talent, they are setting new benchmarks for British and Irish agriculture. We’re proud to work alongside farmers who are not only producing outstanding food, but actively shaping a more sustainable future for the industry.”
The M&S Select Farm Awards are presented annually at Balmoral Show and celebrate the partnership between M&S and its dedicated network of Select Farmers across the UK and Ireland.
Photo Caption
Pictured receiving their awards are (l-r):
- Patrick McKenna, Co. Monaghan – Only at M&S Award
- Seamus & Adele Lennon, Co. Armagh – Welfare Excellence Award
- Peter Kennedy, Head of Agriculture & Fisheries at M&S
- Lorraine Barton, Skea Eggs on behalf of Rhys Mitchell, Beragh, Co. Tyrone – Emerging Talent Award
- Ian Trimble, Donaghmore, Co. Tyrone – Environmental Champion Award
- James & Rachel Davison, Glenarm, Co. Antrim – Royal Countryside Fund Family Farm Award
- Oliver & Pauline McKenna, Eskra, Co. Tyrone – Innovation Award
- Tim O’Malley, Co. Armagh – Produce Excellence Award
- Debbie Barnes, Head of Food Technology Fresh Foods at M&S
