George Dickson, who lives in Swinton, was honoured by the Yorkshire Agricultural Society for his 49 years working at Hoober Hill Farm in Wentworth.

He joined his father at Hoober Hill in 1959 and succeeded him as manager of the farms of R Collier & Son. H emarried a local girl Helen, an author, and raised their two sons in the farmhouse.

Mr Dickson, who retires this year, said he had seen many changes over the years and has come away with many happy memories from working on the farm.

Tom Collier, senior partner of R Collier & Son, said: “George Dickson has been a constant prescence in this business for near half a century and his skills in all aspects of the farm operations have made an irreplaceable contribution to the farm business, enabling it to develop and be recognised as a major seed grain producer, supplying seed barley and wheat to many of the grain growing areas of England and Scotland.”