Tom Burns-Price from Honiton receives help to continue his studies.

AN AGRICULTURAL student from Honiton has won a scholarship after impressing interviewers with his passion and enthusiasm.

Tom Burns-Price, who is studying at Reading University, won this year’s Dairy Crest and NFU West Country Diary Award.

The 23-year-old was one of four finalists chosen from 33 applicants who entered this year’s scholarship competition, which has distributed over �16,000.

Tom spent a year studying engineering at Southampton but opted for a change in direction after spending time on a Dorset diary farm.

He said: “I will be putting the money into tuition fees and living costs, since I am unable to get full funding from the Student Loan Company due to my previous two years of studying, so I am grateful to the Scholarship Fund for helping me to continue my studies.”

The other finalists interviewed by the panel also received cash awards.

Chairman of the Scholarship Fund Steve Harris of Dairy Crest said: “Tom really impressed all the interviewers with his passion and commitment to the dairy industry.

“His knowledge of cows, grassland management and dairy markets, coupled with his determination to follow his chosen career will help him succeed – people like Tom are just what our industry needs.”