RABI has recognised the remarkable individuals and volunteer teams whose dedication, generosity and commitment have made a difference to farming people at the RABI Awards 2026.
Held on Tuesday 20 October at Farmers & Fletchers in the City, London, the ceremony celebrated those who have supported RABI through fundraising, volunteering, advocacy and wider contributions to agriculture.
Five awards were presented, alongside Highly Commended recognitions celebrating the achievements of individuals and RABI committees.
Fundraiser of the Year – William Hyde
William Hyde was named Fundraiser of the Year after completing a 265km ultramarathon over six days, travelling from the Western Sahara towards Marrakesh.
Supported by friend Tom Darby, William raised nearly £4,000 for RABI in memory of his close friend Harley Pearce, a 21-year-old agricultural contractor from Wiltshire who sadly died following a tractor accident in 2025.
Harley's sister, Chelsea, attended the ceremony as William's achievement and tribute were recognised.
Highly Commended recognition went to Marie Stephenson, who travelled 920 miles in ten days, milking 10,411 cows across 22 dairy farms. Her challenge raised £7,045 for RABI while encouraging conversations about mental health in agriculture.
Charli Hicks, supported by Charli's Angels, was also Highly Commended. In memory of her father, Edward Hicks, the group completed 102 miles of the Cotswold Way in under 24 hours, raising over £13,000 and awareness of mental health and suicide in farming.
Fundraising Team of the Year – County Durham Committee
RABI's County Durham Committee received Fundraising Team of the Year after welcoming more than 300 guests to its Summer Luncheon, raising an impressive £54,200.
Alongside other successful events, including its annual Beef Dinner, the committee has continued to bring people together in support of RABI. Sarah Maughan's leadership and the commitment of the wider team were particularly recognised.
The Warwickshire Committee was Highly Commended for its fundraising activities, including a Farmhouse Breakfast raising more than £3,000, quizzes, teas and a tractor run.
The Staffordshire Committee was also Highly Commended, having raised more than £10,000 through a dinner featuring Nigel Owens, alongside its continued involvement in local agricultural events.
Special Recognition Award – Damian Barson
North Yorkshire farmer and content creator Damian Barson received the Special Recognition Award for his outstanding efforts in raising awareness of both RABI's support and the realities of farming life.
After a career in dog training, Damian went on to establish Tessleymoor Farm as a first-generation farmer. Through his social media channels, he shares the highs and lows of farming with honesty and humour.
A passionate supporter of RABI, he has regularly created content promoting the charity, encouraged his viewers to download the FarmersAid app and helped reach farming people who may not otherwise have been aware of the support available.
Damian is also RABI's first official ambassador. Unable to attend the awards in person due to farming commitments, he shared a recorded acceptance message with guests, saying:
"RABI is a fantastic charity. It's not just a charity, it's a family, it's a community, it's a team.
I'm proud to be one of their first ambassadors because their ethos and values align exactly with what mine are … A huge thank you to the team for this award."
Volunteer of the Year – Alison Wilson
Alison Wilson was named Volunteer of the Year in recognition of more than a decade of dedicated support for RABI.
Since becoming Chair of the Cumbria Committee in 2025, Alison has championed the charity through shows, fundraising events, talks and community engagement, attending more than 20 events since May alone.
Her enthusiasm, leadership and commitment, alongside the support of her husband Brian, have made a valuable contribution to RABI's work locally.
Highly Commended recognition went to Emma Robinson, Chair of the Monmouthshire Committee, for leading local events, welcoming new volunteers and helping strengthen RABI's presence across the county.
Christine Bish, Chair of the Cambridgeshire Committee, was also Highly Commended for promoting RABI and FarmersAid, as well as contributing to volunteer initiatives and the Women in Agriculture network.
Outstanding Contribution to Farming – Jim McLaren MBE
Jim McLaren MBE received the Outstanding Contribution to Farming Award in recognition of his exceptional contribution to British agriculture.
A mixed beef and arable farmer from Perthshire, Jim has spent more than two decades representing and supporting the farming industry. His leadership roles have included President of NFU Scotland, Chair of Quality Meat Scotland and Chair of NFU Mutual.
During his chairmanship, the NFU Mutual Charitable Trust distributed more than £7 million to charitable causes, including RABI.
Awarded an MBE for services to farming, Jim has made a lasting contribution to agricultural leadership, education and research.
Jim was presented with the Outstanding Contribution to Farming Award ahead of the ceremony. On receiving the recognition, he said:
"I'm absolutely humbled to be presented with this award. RABI's contribution to the farming community and the resilience it is building is extraordinary. Through my role with the NFU Mutual Charitable Trust, I've been fortunate to see and support that work, and I'm very proud to have been associated with RABI in my own small way."
Recognising those who make a difference
Reflecting on the awards, RABI Chief Executive Alicia Chivers, said:
"The RABI Awards are an opportunity to recognise some of the many remarkable people whose generosity, commitment and enthusiasm make such an important contribution to our charity and to farming communities.
From extraordinary individual fundraising challenges to decades of volunteering, community fundraising and leadership across British agriculture, this year's recipients demonstrate the many different ways people give their time, energy and support to help others.
Our congratulations go to all of this year's winners and those who were Highly Commended, and our sincere thanks to everyone recognised."
