AN enterprising farmer from Exbourne who has built up a dairy business selling milk direct to the customer has been named South West Young Farmer of the Year in the NFU's equivalent of the Oscars.

William Dunn, 24, who will now go through to the President's Awards national final, was said by the judges to have shown courage and initiative and taken a brave step.

'He is someone who has gone against the trend and set themselves up in a very difficult, expensive and competitive environment,' said NFU press officer Ian Johnson.

William was determined to make farming his career when he left school and the dairy which he started building in 1995 has enabled him to make a living from Underdown Farm where his parents keep 90 dairy animals.

'The farm would not support two families and mum and dad will be farming for another 15 years,' said William. 'It was a case of either I go away and work in a different job or stay here and diversify.

'I decided to use the milk from the farm and set up a pasteurising plant.'

With the aid of a 5B European grant which paid for 50 per cent of the cost of setting up Underdown Dairy and installing second-hand equipment, William has been able to keep the expenses down.

Now the plant is producing 120 gallons of milk a day and the Okehampton YFC member has 300 customers he delivers to on the doorstop plus he supplies a number of shops and pubs.

William is the first to admit it has been a lot of hard work. At first he was taking nothing from the business but today he has four milk rounds in Exbourne, North Tawton, Sheepwash and Dolton and is starting to feel the benefit of all the hours he has put in.

Despite suggestion that milk rounds are becoming redundant due to competition from the supermarkets, William is having no trouble picking up new customers.

'I started with nothing in North Tawton and now I have 110 customers in the town,' he said 'I picked up another 12 just the other Saturday and it is surprising how many people are keen to have it if you just ask them.

'The milk is on the doorstep within 24 hours and people know where it has come from.'

The young farmer is developing partnerships with other local producers to deliver products such as eggs and bread and is enjoying selling direct to the customer.

'I have got used to dealing with people and it gives me a real buzz when I sell something,' he said. 'I think people like to see a friendly face — it's a bit more personal than buying your milk from the supermarket.

'I am really glad I made the decision to do this.'

William welcomes people to the farm to see what goes on and has even had a visit from Exbourne Pre-School Playgroup.

He was nominated for the award by Jenny Bashford from the Young Farmers' Centre at Stoneleigh and has received £100 for winning.

Although many would not choose to take such a risk with all the problems in agriculture, William looks at the situation more optimistically.

'There is only one way the industry can go at the moment and that is up,' he said. 'I look at it that if lots of people are giving up there is a better chance for me. If everyone was doing it I would not be able to make a living.'

William's brother Richard, 21, who helps with the dairy business, has just been awarded £1,000 from the NFU Unigate Scholarship Fund to help with his studies.

Richard, who is studying an agricultural with marketing course at Harper Adams Agricultural College in Shropshire, was one of the six successful applicants considered the most likely to pursue a career in the dairy industry.