Cattle farmer James Arney from near Frome took the trophy at

the grand final of Farmers Weekly's hit competition, which seeks to promote a healthy lifestyle and get agricultural people talking about mental health

The victors were crowned as male and female champions at the end of demanding series of challenges designed to test their physical fitness and mental health awareness.

The winners were crowned at the final, with 10 men and 10 women left in the running from hundreds of applicants.

Having completed an online application, a qualifier event consisting of four tough physical challenges aimed at putting their general fitness to the test and an interview with the judges focusing on mental health.

This interview round focused on the finalists' awareness of mental health issues and their ideas on how to address the problems faced by those working in the agricultural industry, including removing the stigma and supporting farmers to talk more openly about their struggles.

James' family farm, in Rode, near Frome, contract-rears about 350 heifers after its dairy herd was sold a few years ago.

This was a tough decision for James and his family to make, but he says it was the right decision not just from a business stand point, but a mental wellbeing one.

"We sold our dairy animals about three years ago – it just wasn't working financially. I didn't want to milk cows, and we made a decision between Dad and I that if we were to milk cows then he was on his own and I was doing something else," he says.

When an opportunity to rear heifers from two to 23 months for a neighbouring dairy farm that milks 800 cows came up, James says it was right for the whole family to take it.

"As hard as getting rid of the cows was, it was a wise decision both physically and mentally for our family and for the future of the business."

"It gives us a chance to diversify and allows us to have a bit more free time instead of milking cows for six hours a day. "

He trains five or six times a week, focusing on functional fitness, weight and endurance training, including running and cycling. During the coronavirus lockdown, he set up a gym on the farm using tyres and heavy objects lying around.

In the summer months, he enjoys to playing for a local cricket team and switches to playing in a five-a-side football team in winter.

"Exercise is a great way to get off the farm, certainly during lockdown. I would go for a run for half an hour and forget about everything, and then I could come back and do some more work.

"It gives me a goal to keep improving. I'm quite a worrier and I know that if stuff on the farm isn't going well, I can go to the gym, I'll think about things and refocus. Problems don't seem so bad if you take a step back."

James wasn't going to enter the competition until his family spurred him on after seeing it advertised.

The third-generation farmer says he's glad he applied as it gave him something to look forward to in a year that as been difficult for many because of the pandemic.

Managing time off the farm is crucial and this is something he pushes for as the youngest partner in the family business – not only for himself, but for his dad, who works tirelessly on the farm.

He actively encourages his dad to get off the farm to indulge in his fishing hobby.

"Growing up, Dad was always working stupid hours, so from a young age I saw how tough it was for him and we would never have a family holiday. Now, it is a lot easier, as one of us can do everything on our own.

"Quite often farmers spend too much time getting stressed out and over-working and then they get rundown and that's when things get tough."

It's important to ask for help, he says, recognising that this isn't something that farmers are always good at.

"They're renowned for working hard because farming is 24/7 and it is difficult to stop working when you've got 100 other things you need to get don

In addition to the trophy James has won £1,000.