RURAL life on the Isle of Wight is being celebrated by new awards.

CLA and the Royal Isle of Wight Agricultural Society launched the new awards, which will be presented at the Royal Isle of Wight County Show on Sunday.

The awards include trophies for rural businesses, young people and schools, and food businesses.

The winners will be crowned at the County Show's theatre from 2.45pm.

The categories in the Isle of Wight Rural Awards are: rural business of the year; rural young person of the year; Isle of Wight primary school of the year; Wight Marque food business of the year; sustainable business champion; and Isle of Wight farm worker of the year.

The awards recognise individuals and businesses that represent the very best of rural achievement on the Isle of Wight.

The panel of judges — made up of Gill Kennett from the Royal Isle of Wight Agricultural Society (RIWAS), CLA senior adviser Claire Bennett, and independent judge Robert Lovegrove — has been assessing, meeting and interviewing the shortlisted finalists ahead of Sunday’s show.

Mrs Bennett, from CLA South East, which represents landowners, farmers and rural businesses across the Isle of Wight, said: "We at the CLA are proud to be a part of the rural community on the Island.

“We wanted to give back to this community and recognise some of the key players which make this Island as beautiful as it is, so we therefore came up with the idea of these awards.

“We hope this is the start of something which can grow, as a way of saying thank you to this amazing community.”

Graham Biss, vice chairman of RIWAS, said: “Part of RIWAS’ charitable role is to raise awareness of rural issues on the Isle of Wight, and we also want to celebrate our successes.

“These new awards will showcase the success of rural industries on the Island, and our awards for schools and young people will demonstrate the very positive future of rural life here.”

The farm worker of the year and the sustainable business champion will be announced at the show, while the shortlisted nominations in the other categories are:

  • Rural business of the year — Briddlesford Lodge Farm and Dairy, Isle of Wight Cheese, Living Larder, Island Brewery/Island Ales, Wood Learn Forest School Limited

  • Rural young person of the year — Will Earley, Kingsley Hollis, George Biss

  • Primary school of the year — Arreton St George's Primary School, Northwood Primary School, Cowes Primary School

  • Wight Marque food business of the year — The Tomato Stall, Island Brewery/Island Ales, Isle of Wight Cheese