Growing up on a dairy farm, Llyr Jones was a familiar face at his local mart, attending sale days twice a week with his family and returning whenever he had a spare day. It was a passion that would eventually become his career.
After leaving school, he joined Dai Lewis Auctioneers at Newcastle Emlyn and Llandysul in 2006, initially working two days a week as a drover.
Becoming an auctioneer was not something he had ever considered. But his employer, Mr Lewis, recognised his natural ability with farmers and encouraged him to give it a go.
A small sale of 20-30 lots of tools, making anything from £1 to £30, was his first taste of selling, followed shortly afterwards by a cull sheep sale at Newcastle Emlyn.
"I enjoyed it and I found that the more I did it, the easier it got," he says.
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After three or four years of auctioneering, Mr Jones completed the Livestock Auctioneers Association (LAA) course, gaining a foundation degree in auctioneering and valuation. "It was a fantastic experience. We visited markets across the UK, learned from other auctioneers and I've made lifelong friends," he says.
Mr Jones' career has been closely tied to the development of the livestock markets he has helped manage.
Following the closure of Llandysul Market due to a new bypass, Newcastle Emlyn became increasingly important to the local farming community. By 2018, however, the market was struggling. Nock Deighton bought the business that year, retaining the existing team, with Llyr taking a leading role in its operation.
Determined to secure its future, the team worked hard to rebuild the traditional West Wales market. Today, Newcastle Emlyn handles 500-1,000 sheep a week and 150 cattle every fortnight.
A new challenge arose in 2022 when the team won the tender to reopen Carmarthen Market after two years of closure, rebuilding farmer confidence through new sale dates, MartEye live-streaming and renewed engagement.
Today, weekly sales see impressive numbers: 500 store cattle, 100 barren cows, 100 dairy cattle, 400 calves and 3,000 sheep.
Mr Jones is quick to share the credit. He says: "Everybody pitches in and helps each other. It wouldn't work without the team."
His auctioneering style is passionate and fair, with a quick pace to keep buyers engaged, while recognising the hard work behind every animal brought through the ring.
Over the moon to receive the ‘auctioneer of the year' award, Mr Jones sees it as recognition of the collective effort behind the markets' success. With three children and long working days he is equally grateful to his wife for support and parents for keeping the family farm running. "The best part is to see the marts thrive and play an important role in the community and I couldn't do this without the support of my family," he says.
