THE hunt is on for the nation's best farmers when it comes to educating children and young adults about where their food comes from.

Bill Graham, the executive director of FACE (Farming and Countryside Education) said: "Our vision is for every child in the UK to visit a farm during their school years, to understand the fascinating world of food production.

"This competition seeks to highlight the work that is done by farmers up and down the country."

Previous overall winner Ian Shears, from Devon, said: "I would urge any farmer considering entry to go for it. The awards that we won have helped increase our profile incredibly with schools in Devon, and certainly has led to an increase in visit bookings. We are aiming for 100 visits in 2010."

There are five categories for a farmer to enter. For more information about the awards, and to find an application form, visit the FACE website at www.face-online.org.uk.