Nick Padwick, one of the leading lights in the farming industry, took home the overall title, Farmers Weekly Farmer of the Year at the 2009 Farmers Weekly Awards held at London's Grosvenor House Hotel.

Earlier in the evening, Nick picked up the Farm Manager of the Year award (sponsored by Claas), before being presented with the top award of the evening.

Nick, from Stoughton Estate on the outskirts of Leicester, impressed the judges with several initiatives, such as devising a machinery sharing plan, leading the Co-op Farms' Farm to Fork initiative and leading the training of all Co-op Farms harvest staff.

The judges were full of praise for Nick's work: "You're immediately struck by Nick Padwick's enthusiasm and motivation for what he does. This man is a high achiever with a can-do attitude."

Hilary Benn, DEFRA secretary to state paid tribute to Nick's outstanding achievement: "Helping our young people to learn about where their food comes from and about all the hard work and expertise that goes into producing it is incredibly important. And that's why Nick Padwick's work with a generation of Leicestershire schoolchildren is so special.

"Nick has also shown his determination to improve the skills of the staff who work alongside him by introducing a training scheme. This is exactly the sort of thing we need to ensure that our farming industry has the skills it needs for the future.

"I applaud Nick for the great commitment he has shown to the future of our farming  - as well as for the success he has had  in managing a large arable estate where productivity and sustainability go hand in hand - and I wish him all the best for the future."  

Farmers Weekly editor Jane King added: "Nick's achievements in managing the challenges of the Stoughton Estate are immense. It's remarkable that he's also found time to drive forward From Farm to Fork. He is a fantastic advocate for the industry."

The awards, hosted by Julia Bradbury, honoured the very best of British farming in front of an invitation-only audience of more than a thousand of the farming industry's movers and shakers.

Other winners on the night included James Price from Woodstock in Oxfordshire who won Young Farmer of the Year and Nicholas Watts of Deeping St Nicholas, Lincs who won Countryside Farmer of the Year.

Editor Jane King said: "Our winners and finalists never cease to amaze me. Their stories are all unique but they share a common theme - a personal and professional journey of development in moving their farm businesses forward. These farmers are grabbing the opportunity that recent public support has given them."