Nottighamshire pig farmer and two-time award winner Fred Allen reveals why he is such a big fan of the National Pig Awards.
So, the finalists have been announced for this year’s Pig Awards and a massive congratulations to all those who have made it this far. I know from my own experience that you must work incredibly hard to get shortlisted for this stage, so credit to everyone who has achieved this feat.
Those that haven’t made it as a finalist, please don’t be disheartened. We work in a fiercely competitive industry; I hope that you will use the whole exercise as a platform to build on and come back far stronger next year.
Making it as a finalist is a huge accolade, because not only do you get the opportunity to win, but you also get a free ticket to an unforgettable night later in the year at the Pig Awards. I must mention, before you read on, that I’m not being paid by the Pig Awards to promote it. I’m just a regular guy, who does regular things, but who happens to just bloody love the Pig Awards!
Shamefully, when I first began farming nearly a decade ago, I scoffed at the idea of an award ceremony based solely around pigs. It was only when I first went in 2022 that I realised how ignorant I had been. The whole occasion was mind-blowing, and I struggled to take it all in. So many like-minded, intelligent, hard-working individuals all under one roof all with the sole aim of getting dolled-up and getting loose. I couldn’t wait to go again.
Award tips
So, for those who haven’t been before, I want to give you a few tips to best ready yourselves for one of the most enjoyable nights of the industry calendar. It’s still a few months away, but there’s no harm in getting psyched up now.
Firstly, when the invite comes, read it properly. It’s not a black-tie event. I spent a lot of my evening apologising to my wife for choosing to wear an exuberant gold tuxedo on our maiden visit to the awards. I also spent a lot of my evening directing guests to the toilets, as the event staff were wearing the same gold tuxedo.
Secondly, don’t be daunted by the whole affair. If, like me, you’re more used to walking around a farm in wellies and overalls, it will feel a little odd getting dressed-up and heading to a lavish hotel in a plush area of London (or plush to me at least) on a workday. My advice is to embrace it.
Whilst the media like to paint us out to be monsters, we’re actually simple working people. And like all working people, we deserve the opportunity to put on our best glad rags, let our hair down and enjoy ourselves.
Thirdly, prepare to mingle. You might know less that a handful of people who are there, but by the end you’ll probably know fifty. For me, one of the main attractions for staying in the pig industry is the people who are involved.
Everyone is so lovely, and everyone wants to get to know everyone. And you’ll experience it for yourself, so long as you let your guard down and just talk to some strangers. The earlier you do it, the better, because you’ll probably be dancing to ‘Livin La Vida Loca’ with them later in the evening anyway.
The whole event makes me extremely proud to be part of our industry. I am especially proud this year too as one of my employees, Nicola, has made it through as a finalist in the ‘Stockperson of the Year’ category.
This is someone who I have helped to train, now following a similar path to the one I once took. She will now walk into that awards-ceremony in London, as I first did in 2022 and realise, herself, how amazing this industry is.
Unfortunately for her, she will also realise how embarrassing her boss is on the dancefloor.