On the eve of the renowned Dairy Show, the Dairy Industry Dinner made its much-anticipated return, attracting key figures from the sector and shining a spotlight on this year's Dairy Industry Award.

The high-profile event took place on Tuesday 3 October in the Wessex Pavilion at the Bath & West Showground and welcomed over 380 attendees.

Selected as the Charity of the Year for 2023, Forage Aid was in the limelight. The charity, which recently merged with the Addington Fund, has supported UK farms affected by extreme weather since its inception in 2013. It has assisted 145 farmers with vital supplies worth £850,000.

Shelagh Hancock, CEO of First Milk and a previous Dairy Industry Award recipient, took the stage to deliver the keynote speech. Shelagh's words focused on the evolutionary trajectory of the Dairy Industry, emphasising the significance of collaboration within the sector.

"It's an honour to have been asked to address guests at this year's Dairy Industry Dinner; events like these are fantastic opportunities for us to come together, share our experiences and to celebrate individuals for their dedication to the sector," said Shelagh Hancock.

Marco Winters, head of Animal Genetics at AHDB, was bestowed with the prestigious Dairy Industry Award this year. Marco has been with AHDB for 18 years with a lifelong commitment to dairy farming. Under his leadership, his team has bridged the gap between scientific research and practical application, influencing the genetic direction of the national herd.

Responding to his win, Marco said: "Winning the award was a huge surprise and a great honour. Dairy farming and genetics are my passion and winning this award stimulates my want to do more in the industry. I am pleased to accept this award for myself and to recognise the hard work my team do. It is good to know that me and my team's work has an impact and is appreciated within the industry."