Three years ago Giles and Molly McQuiston were reeling from the selling of their smallholding where they made their livelihood keeping beef, sheep and free range chicken.

Now Giles is in the running for a farming award – not least of all for being such a great dad.

Giles has been nominated in the Three Counties Farmer annual awards in the Poultry Farmer category for his work looking after the chickens at Flag Station Farm in Mansel Lacy.

But it’s his dedication to his children which makes him stand out in the eyes of his eldest child, 17-year-old Molly.

“Dad has worked throughout lockdown, keeping the supermarkets full with chickens.

“He has to work in unpredictable and unprecedented times.”

Like many farmers, Giles can be up at 2am in the morning when the chicken have to be dispatched to Hereford, and he can work long days because of it.

But whenever he’s back from work Giles dives straight into helping with the homeschooling of Molly and her brothers Jack, 15, and Fergus, 14.

“I am very grateful to my dad for this and for his help through lockdown,” said Molly.

Giles is originally from Northern Ireland but came to Herefordshire after completing a degree at Harper Adams University.

Losing their smallholding at Almeley was a bitter blow for Giles and Mary – “it was the children’s home.”

“It’s been an incredibly hard journey but it’s behind us now.”

And ahead, in a few weeks time, there might by recognition for all Giles’ hard work and scholastic skills with an award.

The Three Counties Farming Awards highlight best practice and outstanding work in the farming industry.

To nominate someone just go to www.herefordtimes.com/awards/tcf/ and fill in the online form.

Entries close on September 18. Categories are: Sheep Farmer Award; Farm Conservation; Cattle Farmer; Family Run Farm; Pig Farmer; Young Farmer (under 25); Poultry Farmer; Farming Hero; Arable Farmer; Farming Contractor; Fruit/Hop Farmer; Outstanding Achievement.

This year’s awards ceremony takes place in November in the form of a digital live broadcast and includes a star-studded array of stars either hosting or dropping in with special messages.