Craig Massie, farm foreman at H Collins and Son in Northamptonshire, has been presented with the Brian Chambers Trophy, sponsored by CF Fertilisers, for excelling in the FACTS plant nutrition examination. 

Having grown up on a mixed family farm in Staffordshire, Craig told us ‘It was the upbringing and love and support from my family that inspired my career choice’. Following his graduation from Harper Adams University, Craig has excelled in his role at H Collins & Son who offered him a permanent opportunity following a successful placement which he completed during his studies.  

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The award was presented by Ian Richards who was the exam chair during Craig’s FACTS examination who said, ‘Craig really stood out as an excellent FACTS candidate for the year. He excelled in his exams and presented himself very well throughout the extensive process in place for deciding the winner of this award. It gave me great pleasure, on the behalf of the FACTS committee and BASIS, to present the award to Craig’. 

Craig is honoured to have received the award, which was set up a a tribute to the late Professor Brian Chambers, ‘I feel very privileged to have been chosen out of all of the candidates, I feel like all my hard work has paid off and I hope to use all the knowledge and experience gained going forward in my future on the farm’.  

Craig’s employer, Ross Collins, added ‘Craig was always one that wanted to expand his knowledge, to grow his experience in farming and improve himself which we are all in favour of supporting. It is fantastic that Craig has won this award, he has worked hard, and we are hoping he will bring some of the knowledge he has learned back on to the farm and start working more closely alongside our advisers’.  

The Brian Chambers Trophy was sponsored by fertiliser manufacturer CF Fertilisers for the first time this year. Sajjad Awan, company agronomist at CF Fertilisers, expressed how proud the company are to be supporting this prestigious award.  ‘We would like to congratulate both this year’s award winner and all agronomists who have successfully completed their FACTS certification and are helping british farmers to grow better crops and improve the environment. We pride ourselves on sharing our expertise and best practice through our people and extensive R&D programme’.  

Throughout the course Craig was tutored by BASIS approved trainer, James Christian-Ilett, ‘I am delighted that Craig has received the Brian Chambers Trophy. To be the highest rated FACTS candidate of the year is a remarkable achievement and is testament to Craig’s hard work and enthusiasm for crop nutrition’.  

Craig is hoping to continue his career development by enrolling in future BASIS courses with the overall goal of achieving the BASIS Diploma in Agronomy.  

For more information on BASIS training courses, please visit www.basis-reg.co.uk or contact a member of the team on 01335 343945 or help@basis-reg.co.uk.