BGAJ Podcaster of the Year Award
A word from our award sponsor: Rural Pod Media
Podcasting continues to be a powerful and evolving medium for telling stories from the agricultural and rural sectors. This award celebrates excellence and aims to encourage podcasters to continue raising the bar in creativity, storytelling and impact.
We’re looking for entries that combine strong production values with compelling content, audience engagement and a sense of purpose.
It’s a real privilege to support this award again, and I’m excited to hear how podcasters have been using the podcasting over the past year to tell stories about farming, the environment and rural life.
Ben Eagle, director, Rural Pod Media
Award Details
Open date
28 July 2026
Deadline date
21 August 2026
Notification date
8 October 2026
Description
The BGAJ Podcaster of the Year Award celebrates agricultural podcasts and the people behind the microphone. The award was launched in 2024 by BGAJ to celebrate agricultural podcasting and inspire agricultural podcasters to innovate the craft.
The award is once again being kindly sponsored by specialist rural podcast production agency RuralPod Media.
Entry Guidelines:
- Award is open to both BGAJ members and non-members.
- Podcast content must be related to agriculture, the environment or rural life in the UK or produced by someone living in the UK.
- Podcast entry must have been released between 01/08/2025 and 31/07/2026.
- Entries must include the producer’s name, email address and contact telephone number; the title and date of the broadcast; a brief description of the purpose of the episode and the podcast as a whole.
- Submit the link to one podcast episode and specify the timecode for up to 5 minutes of audio that you would like your entry to be judged on.
- One submission allowed per entrant.
- If there is more than one producer for a show, we will accept multiple entries for the same show, but the entry/episode must have been produced by the named entrant.
- Winners & Runners agree to take part in BGAJ videos & other promotional activity as required
Prizes
- The winner will take the award and £200 first prize.
- A runner up will receive £100.
- Both winner and runner up will receive a ticket to the Guild’s Harvest Lunch on 8 October 2026.
Judging criteria
Your entry will be judged using the following criteria:
- Production value – Consider the recording quality, including sound design, editing and technical aspects. Is the podcast well produced with clear audio and seamless transitions? Does the entry use non-verbal sound to tell the story?
- Content and Storytelling – Is the content interesting or entertaining? Is it engaging and suitable for its intended audience? Would it make me want to listen to more episodes from this podcast?
- Audience engagement – does the podcast connect with its audience? Does it foster listener interaction and feedback? Is there evidence of a strong and active community around the podcast?
- Originality and Creativity – Is the content original? Does the podcast feature interviewees, stories, perspectives or ideas that aren’t represented in other media?
- Impact and Influence – does the content have a broader impact on the agricultural industry or wider society? What is the reach of the content? Does it contribute towards social change or awareness? Does it inspire action, conversation or reflection amongst its listeners?
Judges
Ben Eagle (Director, Rural Pod Media)
Johann Tasker (2025 winner & producer / host of Farmers Weekly Podcast)
Anna Hill (BBC Farming Today)
Entry Form
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