Caroline Stocks, managing partner of Consus Communications, collects Gary Hartley’s award for winning the 2025 Mike Evans Award for PR Communications at the Guild’s Harvest Lunch
Consus Communications’ agri-science writer Gary Hartley has been named winner of the British Guild of Agricultural Journalists’ Mike Evans Award for PR Communications 2025 for his outstanding work on behalf of Phytoform.
The award is kindly sponsored by Oxtale Communications.
Gary’s press campaign, which centred on a press release entitled ‘Tiny tomato plants that pack a punch could prove breakthrough crop for UK precision breeding’ showcased innovation in vertical farming and was described by judges Emma Penny and Ben Pike as a “best-in-class piece of PR communication” that stood head and shoulders above the other entries.
The judges praised Gary’s entry for its:
- Clear strategy and strong news value
- Broad appeal across the supply chain
- Use of a wide range of sources
- Ability to deliver an extensive list of coverage in highly relevant titles
Emma Penny said: “This was a piece that not only told a compelling story but did so with clarity, depth, and genuine impact. It showed how PR can inform, engage, and influence at the highest level.”
Gary took home the £250 first prize.
Strong runner-up
The runner-up spot went to Katie Insch of Jane Craigie Marketing and Co for her press release showcasing SSEN and Future Forestry’s commitment to environmental responsibility.
Katie’s story highlighted how heavy horses are being used on a commercial worksite to extract timber, striking a balance between environmental stewardship, ecosystem protection, and maintaining network reliability for SSEN customers.
Ben said: “This was a strong news story which generated a huge amount of high-value PR. It was such an interesting and different piece that it stood out, with a great back story and attention to detail. It had the potential to run in a range of media slots, from a picture-of-the-day to a full feature spread.”
Celebrating excellence
The Mike Evans Award recognises the very best in agricultural PR and communications.
It was launched in 2024 in memory of Mike, who was the founder of Agrafax/Mistral, one of the predominant agricultural communications consultancies throughout the 80s, 90s and beyond.
Oxtale PR is proud to support this award and encourage a continued focus within the Guild on excellence in communications which are specifically for public relations purposes.
