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Wales Farmer September 2013 ROYAL WELSH SHOW 13


No kidding as goats take centrestage


FUTURE LEADERS: Wales’ farming minister, Alun Davies, with members of the 2013 Rural Leadership Programme.


PICTURE: Debbie James.


Joiningnext generationof ruralleaders


AGROUP of individuals who have boosted their leader- ship and business skills thanks to aFarming Connect initiative teamed up with the project’s 2013 intake at the


Royal Welsh Show. Members of the 2012 Agri-


Academymet the newrecruits at a special reception jointlyhosted by the RoyalWelsh Agricultural Society (RWAS) and Farming Connect. The Agri-Academy, nowinits sec-


ond year,isinspiring and developing anew generation of rural leaders and entrepreneurs through arural leader- ship and business and innovation programmes. Wales’ Minister forNatural


Resources and Food, Alun Davies, whomet past and present candidates at the showreception, said the Agri- Academyhad been created to sup- port and develop farmers and


By Debbie James


foresters whohad demonstrated entrepreneurial flair or leadership potential. “By bringing together scholars


from 2012 and this year’scandidates, we arebringing together like-minded, ambitious and focused individuals whoare united in their goal of improving their ownskills and expertise and of achieving their potential –not onlyfor their own agricultural businesses,but also for the good of the rural communities wherethey live and the industry in general,”said Mr Davies. Aspeaker at the event wasDr


Nerys LlewelynJones,afarmer’swife whospecialises in agricultural law from her ownon-farmpractice in Pumpsaint. During her time as acan- didate with the 2012 Agri-Academy rural leadership programme,Nerys wasinvited to chair ameeting with


leading MEP George Lyon at the Wales Office in Brussels.She credits the Agri-Academywith giving her the confidence to put into practice her public speaking skills and to voice her ownopinions and those of the agricultural industry,both in Wales and at international level. Fellowrural leadership graduate


Chris Hanks,said the experience had givenhim the drive to encourageoth- ers to seizeopportunities to work in agriculture. Chris is aiming to encouragesci-


ence students from all backgrounds to consider agricultureasacareer opportunity and to dispel the myth thatfarming is all about manual labour and long hours.Heisalso evangelical about alternative energy, and his university bio-digester proj- ect has nowcome to fruition on the farmwhich has inspired him since the ageof14and wherehenow works.


Youngsters off to see the world


SEVEN young farmers from across Wales will see the worldthanks to a travel scholarship. This year’sGareth RawRees Memorial Travel Scholarship has awarded £2,300 to scholars wishing to broaden their knowledge of agri- culture. Daniel Beavan, from Llanddewi


Skirrid, near Abergavenny, will receive £1,000 to help fund asix month trip to Australia. The trip will include athree-month work experi- ence stint on acattle ranch and sheep station in Armidale,New South Wales,beforemoving on to Perth in Western Australia to join asheep shearing gang. Nineteen-year-old Daniel, (right)


whohas worked on the familybeef and sheep farmfor the last twoyears, is aformer pupil of King Henry VIII Comprehensive


School in


Abergavennyand will begin his work experience placement in Australia at the end of September. He said: “I am reallylooking for-


ward to spending time in Australia to widen my knowledge of agriculture and to learn at first-hand about the


Angharad Llewelyn, of Hodgeston, near Pembroke, towardsathree week trip to Illinois,USA as part of the Wales


YFC International


Programme. TomJones from Reynalton, near Kilgetty in Pembrokeshire, has receivedfunding foratwo week trip to Canada which has been arranged through Wales YFC. Student farmer Edwin Jones from


work of large scale cattle and sheep enterprises.InAustralia Ihope to gain anew perspective on farming and I’m keen to learn newtechniques and innovations thatI’ll be able to bring back to benefit the family farm.” The other recipients from the scholarship are: Eifion Phillips,ofSennybridge,


Powys,who receives£500 towardsa three week studytour of New Zealand. The £200 awardwinners are


Maesmynis,near Builth Wells is undertaking a12-month work place- ment with Aviagen, abroiler chicken breeding companyinAustralia and NewZealand. The twoother recipients from the scholarship this year will both receive £100 each to help with their travels. Mererid Jones from Felinfach,


Ceredigion, and Esyllt Ellis-Jones, from Bontnewydd near Aberystwyth, will both attend the RuralYouth Europe rallyinIreland, representing Wales YFC. The scholarship,which is adminis-


tered by NFU Cymru, wasset up in memory of the late Gareth RawRees whowas chairman of the NFU Cymru education committee.


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TOUGH COMPETITION: Showing in the Angora goat classes.


THERE wasatop ten for one showing familyinthe goatcompetitions. As well as taking home


the top honours of champi- on dairy goatfor Alailah Vanity,Mrand Miss T. and M. Ogborne,ofChewstoke, Bristol, picked up redcards in ten classes.The champion wasalso named best produc- tion inspection goat, best BritishAlpine thathas borne akid and best milker.


GOATS


Champion dairy goat: Mrs &Miss T&MOgborne, ALAILAH VANITY Champion Angora goat: C&D Tyler


Just behind wasAeron


Edwards, of Dolpark, Rhos yGarth, Llanilar,whose dairy goats took home nine first prizecards,including best goatling, best kid and


PICTURE: Wales Farmer.


the Anglo Nubian milking competition. The Angoragoats compe-


titions meanwhile,proved to be asuccessful hunting ground forC.and D. Tyler, of


Penyrallt Uchaf,


Crymych, Pembrokeshire, winning four classes and both the male and female championships,beforegoing on to takethe overall cham- pionship with their maiden doe.


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