Les Wake will travel to the annual Countryside Alliance Awards at the House of Lords next Wednesday to find out if he has beaten off the stiff competition and won the accolade.

Countryside Alliance Awards director Jill Grieve said: "This popular young secretary of the Tockwith Show has recently become chairman of the Federation of Yorkshire Shows.

"Les is a tireless champion of farming, starting initiatives such as the 'Green Menu' at shows and creating a youth committee in order to retain farming's important heritage.

"The nominations for Les were warm and extremely admiring of his energy and commitment – his fans feel he is a true Rural Hero."

Mr Wake, who is from Whixley, said he was pleasantly surprised when he discovered he was shortlisted in the final four - he is also up against Open Farm Sunday creator, Ian Pigott.

He said: "I'm very much looking forward to going to the House of Lords. It will be fantastic if I win but I don't know whether that will happen. It's an honour to get to the finals nevermind anything else. I'm very pleased I got this far."

The Countryside Alliance Awards celebrate the skills, produce, traditions and enterprise of the countryside through the characters who work hard to make it tick.

For more information visit www.countrysideallianceawards.co.uk