This is just too good. Don Gomery (pictured left) is an example of the wonderful kind of agricultural journalist you’ll get to know if you become involved in the activities of the International Federation of Agricultural Journalists. If you were a member then you’d know from the new and improved IFAJ Newsletter that he just won a very prestigious award from the Guild of Agricultural Journalists. Don is pictured receiving the award from former Guild president Tony Pexton. Don, I will lift a pint in your honor the first chance I get.

The Guild’s honorary general secretary, Don Gomery, was the surprised and delighted recipient of the Netherthorpe ‘Communicator of the Year’ award, presented at the Royal Show. The Netherthorpe is the Guild’s most prestigious award, as it is made on the basis of nominations to a member judged to have made a prolonged, consistent and high-quality contribution to communications within agriculture and/or horticulture and the countryside.

Despite this busy workload, Don finds time to handle the endless administration involved in keeping the Guild running, while also representing the organisation at International Federation meetings. He has been honorary general secretary for 22 years now and during that time has been involved in some way or other with just about every event the Guild has staged, including International Congresses held in Britain in 1987 and 1997, while also helping look after the Guild’s Charitable Trust as its secretary.

Here’s the best part of the story though. “All in all, a well-deserved recipient of the bronze ‘Crowing Cockerel’ trophy, which is displayed year-round in the bar of the Farmers Club in London.” I think we should have an AAEA award on permanent display in a bar somewhere too. Maybe Howl at the Moon?