Prestigious awards ceremony recognises Welsh farmers

Individuals from throughout Wales were eligible for the prestigious awards presented during today’s opening day (Monday,December 1), of the Royal Welsh Winter Fair by Welsh Assembly Rural Affairs Minister, Elin Jones.

Taking the senior award was Rachel Lewis-Davies, a 33-year-old mother of young children actively involved in running the family farm at Llanwern, near Brecon, Powys.

An Agriscop leader with Menter a Busnes offering advice to agricultural businesses, she is also close to completing a degree in environmental management at the University of Wales, Newport, and considering following this with a Masters.

Winner of the young learner award was 20-year-old Gwyn Johnson, from Maes Bach Farm, Tonteg, near Pontypridd.

His active involvement in the family farm business, has seen him diversifying into contracting and the sale of hay and straw.

He is in his third year of the Higher National Certificate in Agriculture and an active member of his local YFC.

The other finalist for the lifelong award was 48-year-old Christine Chisholm, of Hawarden, Flintshire, who after 21 years in the police force decided to retrain and take on a floristry course at the Welsh College of Horticulture.

Last year she set up her own business which specialises in wedding arrangements.

Vying for the young learner award were Mike Horton, 22, from Pontirwaun, Cardigan, and a Pembrokeshire Coast National Park assistant woodland warden.

William Noble, 18, from Dolwyddelan, Conwy, who is actively involved in the family’s mixed beef and sheep farm and in the first year of study for an HND in Agriculture at Aberystwyth University.

Arwyn Bowen, 19, from Trelech, Carmarthen, who also works on the family dairy farm and currently taking an HND Agriculture course at Coleg Sir Gar.