STEPHEN and Tracey Fawcett, and daughter Samantha, 25, are Craven Cattle Marts’ Farmers of the Year for 2014.

The family farm at Fold House, Drebley, near Burnsall, and won the breeding and store cattle category through multiple prizes, particularly with their young bulls, before taking the overall title.

The award recognises the contribution of the mart's regular vendors. Points are awarded for prize winners at livestock shows and highest priced stock in several categories at weekly sales throughout the year.

Mr Fawcett was originally in partnership with parents Ken and Heather, and brother John, at Dale Head Farm, Barden. His parents farmed there for some 50 years, with John and his own family now at the helm.

The Fawcetts started in their own right three years ago farming 260 acres at Fold House, 300 acres at White House Farm, Skyreholme, and with grazing rights on Barden Moor.

They currently have 46 suckler cows – mainly Spring-calving British Blue-cross and Limousin-cross – two pure British Blue bulls and 700 breeding sheep, mainly Swaledale, Mule and Blue Faced Leicester.

The family are regular prize winners with their sheep at Skipton but their young bulls victory at the 2014 New Year opener was their first major cattle show success, which has since been repeated several times.

Mr Fawcett said: "Skipton is our local auction mart and we always try to produce and sell top-quality livestock, including Mule gimmer lambs every year, along with some first-rate store cattle.

"It’s with a great sense of achievement that we continue to do consistently well there. To become overall Farmers of the Year is fantastic as there are some tremendous farming families out there who trade at CCM. It’s a real honour for us."

The couple have three children, twins Samantha, who plays an integral part in running the family farm, and Ben, who works for Andrew Stapleton Agricultural Contractors in Hellifield, and Matthew, 21, who has qualified in architectural technology, but is currently taking two years out to travel the world.

CCM Dairy Farmers of the Year were David and Claire Lawson and children, Matthew and Suzy , who run their top-performing Newbirks pedigree Holstein herd at Mill Farm, Arthington. Their newly calven heifers took eight championships during the course of the year, along with reserve championships and prize winners.

Prime Lamb Farmers of the Year were Tosside’s Trevor and Clive Robinson and their predominantly Beltex-cross pens, while Prime Cattle Farmer of the Year was Silsden Moor’s Simon Bennett.

The Store and Breeding Sheep title went for the second year running to to father and son David and Robin Booth, who trade as WA&A Booth in Feizor. Their wins included three of the four titles available at the two big NEMSA ewe lamb highlights in September.