Summary
The Jim Keetch Small Farm Attraction of the Year, named in memory of NFAN's pioneering founder, is open to all NFAN member farm attractions with annual visitor numbers of up to 75,000.
This prestigious Farm Park 'Oscar' recognises excellence and reflects one of NFAN's key aims to maintain high standards across the industry.
A rigorous judging process will find the winner and runner-up who will be announced at the glittering NFAN Awards Gala Dinner in January 2024.
Not only does the winning farm park take home the Jim Keetch Small Farm Attraction of the Year Perpetual Shield. Taking the accolade provides a wealth of PR and press opportunities for the business.
Judging
Judges will be looking for the farm park which can demonstrate excellence across the business.
Entry submissions will be judged by a panel including an industry expert and former category winners.
Initial judging will review submissions to draw up a shortlist of finalist.
Final judging will be done by an anonymous judge's site visit and a mystery shop.
The winner and runner-up will be announced at the 2024 NFAN Awards Gala Dinner in January.
Before filling in the application form please read the entry notes below
Raising and maintaining industry standards is one of NFAN’s key aims.
All entries for the large and small Jim Keetch Farm Attraction of the Year must abide by the 15 Industry Code of Practice guidelines listed below.
Any breaches of the guidelines will mean attractions cannot be shortlisted and will be removed from the judging process.
ICoP Guidelines 15 points
- You have read the Code of Practice and a copy is available at your site.
- You & your staff have watched & understood the importance the CoP video to keep visitors and staff safe on your site.
- You have an effective written risk assessment procedure.
- Information is available to visitors to cover the possible risk to health / adequate information is given to visitors on the possible risks to health.
- There is hand washing information available & signage to advise visitors to wash their hands before eating and drinking after contact with animals.
- Your attraction provides and maintains adequate hand washing facilities.
- Hand washing stations servicing animal contact areas and eating areas have hot and cold or warm running water, liquid soap is provided.
Note: If the site is open on an occasional basis then cold running water, soap and paper towels would be acceptable.
- Instructions on hand washing techniques are displayed.
- Cleansing wipes or anti-bacterial gels, where used, are in addition to proper hand washing – not as a substitute, (these can be situated elsewhere on site but not near animals as visitors might decide to use sanitiser instead of soap and water).
- All visitor routes are kept clean of animal faeces to reduce the risk of cross contamination including FYM and liquid waste.
- Animal pens are boarded/barriered to prevent faecal run and are cleaned regularly with DEFRA approved disinfectant.
- The public are prevented from entering animal pens.
- Where animals are moved internally on the site or animals are brought out to visitors (lamb feeding etc), all muck is picked up immediately to prevent contamination on shoes and pushchairs and hard surfaces are cleaned down every time.
- Visitors are prohibited from eating and drinking in animal contact areas.
- Children’s play areas and picnic areas are separated from animal contact areas, contact with animals is prevented e.g. by double fencing.
- Staff appreciate risks associated with non-hand washing, staff are able to provide visitors with relevant information/guidance on potential risks.
- All areas which the public have access to must be clearly defined – “no entrance” signs clear.