Matt Baker said: "Over the three weeks they proved to be very at home in the challenging landscape of Eryri and I have no doubt that they will be brilliant tenants. Not only are they a wonderful couple, they are passionate farmers and talented land managers who I am sure will be an asset to the farm and the Trust."
Winners of this year's Our Dream Farm with Matt Baker have been revealed to excited audiences following an eight-week contest to find who had shown they were ready to take on a tenancy in the heart of Eryri National Park.
After the conclusion of the eight-part series on Channel 4 this evening (May 3), two young farmers have been announced as the worthy winners to take on a 15-year National Trust tenancy at a 248-hectare hill farm in the foothills of Wales' highest mountain Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon).
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Our Dream Farm with Matt Baker winners
Farming couple Ioan Jones and Sara Jenkins, both 28, secured the tenancy after showing their ability to navigate life as tenant farmers, the vital role farmers play in helping nature thrive while running a sustainable business, highlighting the importance of Welsh culture and language, as well as revealing how important farming is for rural communities in Wales.
Having entered the process together, Mr Jones had gained his farming credentials on his parent's beef and sheep farm in Boduan, Gwynedd, on the Llŷn Peninsula, while Ms Jenkins was raised on a family farm at Tal-y-Bont in Ceredigion.
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Livestock auctioneer Adam Grieve and his wife Jenny secured a 10-year tenancy on a 340 acre (138 hectare) farm on the Wallington Estate in Northumberland after winning last year's contest.
Sustainable farming
Over the course of the series, seven applicants had demonstrated their passion for sustainable farming, presenting their business plans, discussing their vision for the farm and experiencinh life on the National Trust Cymru Estate by taking part in real-life farming tasks and experiences.
Contestants took part in exercises which included handling livestock, going to auction, selling produce at a market in Portmeirion, welcoming tourists to the farm's holiday lets and more.
National Trust tenancy
They were observed over a three-week filming period by National Trust's general manager for Eryri, Trystan Edwards, and Giles Hunt, the National Trust's land and estates director.
Mr Edwards said: "Ioan and Sara were put through their paces over a three-week period and demonstrated to us how well they understood the role of farming and nature in an environment as special as this.
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"The farm is certain to go from strength-to-strength under their careful custodianship, and I wish them the very best.
"We hope viewers of this series will value finding out more about tenant farming and the vital role farmers play in helping nature thrive in the countryside, while running sustainable businesses producing good food.
"We are also incredibly proud to be showcasing Wales' unique culture, language and how integral farming is for rural communities here in Wales."
Mr Jones said it had been his 'dream' to one day have his own family farm and he was glad to take on the tenancy.
"We are so glad to have been chosen and cannot wait to build a life here together in this beautiful location," he added.
"Farm tenancies are hard to come by and opportunities like this do not come up very often and so you have to seize the opportunity when it comes up and go for it like we did."
Plans for the future
The Gwynedd-raised farmer has already revealed his plans of how he wants to shape the farm in the future.
"We have been busy over the past few months getting to know the farm and landscape, settling in and tending to our flock of 65 sheep," he added.
"We are currently in the middle of our first lambing season.
"Fortunately, it has been great weather which is a massive help for lambing.
"We are also looking for Welsh black heifers to buy so we can start our own herd.
"The bothy has also been very busy with guests so far and we hope to open a second bothy by the start of the summer.
"Hopefully they will be successful and get busier and busier as word spreads on social media."
Matt Baker's thoughts
Matt Baker, presenter of the show who is also from a farming background, said: "I am so delighted that Sara and Ioan were awarded the tenancy by the National Trust.
"Over the three weeks, they proved to be very at home in the challenging landscape of Eryri and I have no doubt that they will be brilliant tenants.
"Not only are they a wonderful couple, they are passionate farmers and talented land managers who I am sure will be an asset to the farm and the Trust.
"I cannot wait to go and stay in their bed and breakfast!"
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Mr Baker said it has been a delight to work on the series with aspiring tenant farmers.
'An enlightened view of tenant farming'
He added: "It has been a privilege to produce another series of Our Dream Farm, which hopefully has enlightened viewers to the world of tenant farming and the passion and hard work that goes into producing our food and looking after our landscape."
As part of their business plan, Mr Jones and Ms Jenkins have been working with the National Trust and Eryri National Park to discuss creating a small overflow car park for hikers and to open a small campsite on the land in the summer.
Since filming took place, the couple have also got engaged, with Ioan proposing at the farm and they hope to wed at Sara's family farm in Ceredigion in 2026.
The National Trust said they hoped the show has increased education about farming life with those from a non-rural background.
"We hope the series increases understanding of the role farmers and land managers play in restoring nature, producing food and improving the climate for the whole of the UK," Mr Hunt added.
'Getting into farming is incredibly difficult'
"None of this would have been possible without the dedication, commitment and huge passion that all the applicants showed for farming.
"Getting into farming is incredibly difficult but every single one of the applicants gave their best to try and secure the tenancy.
"I very much hope that the unsuccessful applicants can take all the learning that they got from the process and apply it to the next tenancy they try to secure.
"Sara and Ioan were impressive throughout the three-week selection process, and I hope that they can now start to enjoy being tenants of their own farm and I look forward to working with them in the years to come."
