Wales Farmer 24


Wales YFC’s 2050 vision


WALES YFC has launched its 2050 vision forasuccessful Welsh farming industry. The vision comprises five


points which Wales YFC believeswill lead to asuccessful Welsh farming industry. Chairman of the rural


affairs committee Jonny Williams said: “Wales YFC believe thatthis 2050 Vision will raise awareness and inter- est in Welsh farming and will promote amoresuccessful and vibrant agricultural industry in the future.” The five-point vision is:


1. Every primary school child in Wales should be afforded the opportunity to visit aworking farm.


2. Increased profitability by promoting efficient farming practices through embracing the latest developments in tech- nology and bioscience.


3. Strong local supplychains thatenableWelsh produce to be readilyavailablethroughout the Welsh public sector.


4. Strong rural communities with access to the global mar- ketthrough afirst class trans- port, processing and communi- cations infrastructure.


5. An improved public percep- tion of the Welsh agricultural brand, making agriculturethe leading long-termsecurecareer choice forall in avibrant Welsh nation. The vision is currentlyin


draft form and Wales YFC is welcoming anycomments.


New girl group at the top


SISTERS were doing it forthem- selves when the National Federation of Young Farmers’ Clubs newcouncil waselected. Millie


Wastie,of


NorthamptonshireYFC,was voted in as the newnational chairman, with ClaireWorden, Cornwall YFC,and Hannah Talbot, WorcestershireYFC, elected as the twovice-chairmen. During her year as chairman,


Millyplans to launch arural road safety campaign to educate members on the risks of driving in rural areas.Milly, whoworks forthe RoyalAgricultural Benevolent Institution, is also focused on bringing the clubs and counties of the 80-year-old organisation closer together and attracting newmembers. She said: “I am thoroughly


looking forwardtorepresenting the 25,000 members throughout England and Wales.Iwant to be able to give back what Ihave alreadyachievedwithin YFC. “It is ahuge honour to be


elected and something Inever thought Icould achieve from my humble upbringings.Iam incredibly proud and will do all thatIcan to provide opportuni- ties forthe membership.”


YFC February 2013


Supplying incentive to lamb producers


AYOUNG farmer from Carmarthenshire


has


scooped atop award for supplying Welsh lamb to a


leading supermarket. John Richards wasnamed Supplier of the Year forthe Wales YFC Lamb Initiative Programme,which givesYFC members in Wales the unique opportunity to supplyWelsh lamb to Sainsbury’sstores throughout the year. The prestigious awardwas pre-


sented to John at the RoyalWelsh Winter Fair by Siobhan Barnes (lamb buyer) and Julien Pursglove (lamb technologist) from Sainsbury’sand Paul Edwards, managing director of Dunbia. Julien


Pursglove stated:


“Producing those products that Sainsbury’scustomers require, is athree-way process,involving the farmer,processor and retailer working together.That’swhy Sainsbury’sare pleased to be working in partnership with our processor Dunbia and their sup- plybase of Welsh young farmers in order to meet those customers’ expectations. “Farmers supplying quality


stock to our processors arevital to our business and Iwould like to congratulate John Richards on his success this year in winning the award, the levelheattained is afantastic achievement.”


PADDING OUT PRIZE: John Richards receives his iPad mini with (left to right) Siobhan Barnes, beef and lamb buyer, Sainsbury’s; Julien Pursglove, lamb technologist, Sainsbury’s; Paul Edwards, managing director, Dunbia (Llanybydder); and Jonny Williams, chairman of Wales YFC rural affairs committee.


The supplyinitiative is growing


every year and currentlyhas 75 suppliers. “Awarding aprizefor the sup-


plier of the year is keyasithigh- lights the importance of produc-


ing aproduct to its optimum and reaching the specification of the target market,”added Paul Edwards. “John Richards has achieved 91% of his stock reaching specifi-


cation, which is excellent against an averageof77%. “Young farmers arethe future


of our industry and it is invalu- able thatweare able to support an initiative likethis with Wales


YFC and Sainsbury’s.” Anyone whoisinterested in


taking part in the scheme can contact the Wales YFC office on 01982 553502 or Dunbia Llanybydder on 01570 472067.


Twenty-three membersjointhe jet set


TWENTY-THREE young farm- ers will be flying the flag forWales all over the globe this year. At


the Wales YFC


International Briefing Dayin November,members were chosen to represent Wales YFC in places as far afield as Canada, and as close to home as Scotland, as part of the Wales YFC international travel programme for2013. Aled Johnson, chairman of


Wales YFC’sactivities and inter- national committee,said the brief- ing dayhad once again been a success. He added: “Our members obvi-


ouslyfeel thatthe opportunities forinternational travel offered by Wales YFC areextremelyworth- while.


“The programme ensures that young people in rural areas can


benefit from the valuableexperi- ence of travel and exchange visits with other young people from across the world. “The visits on offer aretotally


unique.These arenot holidays. The objective is to give our mem- bers aspecial insight into the lives of members wholive in adifferent country and to experience differ- ent cultures and adifferent wayof life.” Theinternational programme


aims to encouragemembers’ understanding of other cultures and givesthem the opportunity to travel to different places and expe- rience newactivities. The programme also asks the


YFC clubs in Wales and their members to host members from similar organisations over the summer months.


Northern Ireland Carys Rhys Lewis, Pennant YFC, Ceredigion Carys Vaughan, Eglwyswrw YFC, Pembrokeshire


Scotland Angharad Gwillim, Usk YFC, Gwent Iwan George, Eglwyswrw YFC, Pembrokeshire


Finland Anwen Jones, Llandeilo YFC, Carmarthenshire Kirsty Harrison, Usk YFC, Gwent


Canada Anna Mayo, Bedwas YFC, Gwent Tom Jones, Martletwy YFC, Pembrokeshire


Montana Menna Williams, Llanwenog YFC, Ceredigion


Kansas Betsan Hughes, Llanddeiniol YFC, Ceredigion


Illinois


Leyshon Griffiths, Neath YFC, Glamorgan Angharad Llewelyn, South Pembrokeshire YFC, Pembrokeshire


Spring seminar Jolene Powell, Rhayader YFC, Radnorshire Llinos Dyer, Dyffryn Tywi YFC, Carmarthenshire


European Rally Joy Cornock, Fishguard YFC,


Pembrokeshire (leader) Meredid Jones, Felinfach YFC, Ceredigion Esyllt Jones, Llangwyryfon YFC, Ceredigion Ffion Lewis, Llanddeiniol YFC, Ceredigion Lynwen Thomas, Rhayader YFC, Radnorshire


Autumn seminar Angharad Thomas, Dyffryn Tywi YFC, Carmarthenshire Heini Daniels, Dyffryn Tywi YFC, Carmarthenshire


Volunteering trip Emyr Beynon, St Ishmaels YFC, Carmarthenshire


Elwyn Jones scholarship Iestyn Russell, Cwmann YFC, Carmarthenshire


New officers take up posts with busy team


TWOnew members of staffhavejoined the busy team at the Wales YFC Centre on the RoyalWelsh Showground. Iestyn Thomas,ofLlandeilo,


Carmarthenshire, is the organisation’s newrural development officer and Helen Evans from Llandefalle,Brecknockshire, has been appointed project support offi- cer.


Iestyn, originallyfromAbermule, Montgomeryshire, studied rural environ- ment at the University of Wales,Trinity College,after completing an HND land administration course,which has helped him to build avaried career within the land management sector.Heenjoys being outdoors,and will be completing his thirdLondon Marathon in April. As the rural development officer,


Iestyn will be responsible foradministrat- ing and servicing the Wales YFC rural affairs sub-committee,including manag- ing the various competitions it runs,such as the community and environment chal-


lenge and the rural enterprise scheme.He will also be responsible forrepresenting the YFC at rural and agricultural meet- ings and assisting the committee in devel- oping and delivering rural educational opportunities within Wales YFC and the wider communities in Wales. As well as taking on anew job as


Wales YFC’sproject support officer, Helen Evans is currentlythe vice-chair- man of Brecknock YFC.She has worked previouslyfor the Children and Young People’sPartnership at Powys County Council and also forNFU Cymru. She is very much involved with her familyfarm and in her sparetime enjoys competing in YFC competitions such as handicraft, cookery and showing stock. As the project support officer,Helen


will be responsible foradministrating support fornew and exciting projects within three areas –the YFC youth forum, YFC business group and Young People’sVillage.


For the latest Wales farming news: walesfarmer.co.uk


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