Barbara Hughes is Wales’ top woman farmer

Barbara Hughes, from Ivy House Farm, Malpas, Wrexham, has today been crowned NFU Cymru / NatWest Wales Woman Farmer of the Year at the Royal Welsh Winter Fair.

Now in its 14th year, the competition aims to celebrate the often forgotten contribution that women make to Welsh farming. Previous winners have gone on to hold key roles in the industry and win other awards.

Barbara isn’t from a farming background but was so interested in agriculture she went on every course available 20 years ago from learning to AI to foot trimming. A mother of three, she ran the farm, by herself, for over 28 years while her husband worked outside agriculture. Barbara is currently the national Dairy Chairman for the Women Food and Farming Union, sits on the RWAS advisory cttee and is the first lady vice chairman of NFU Cymru Wrexham branch.

This year Barbara, with a bit of help from her husband Derek, started a successful ’pick your own pumpkins and maize maze’ diversification. She said the feedback had been fantastic and it brought children to the countryside to see the pumpkins actually growing rather than just seeing them appear on the supermarket shelf.

The runners up for this year’s Award are Lynda Jones and Eirian Griffiths.

Lynda Jones, Ddol Farm, Llanbadarn-Fynydd, Powys. Lynda and her family are one of the largest free range egg producers in Wales with five units and 69,000 hens. She employs five part time ladies and six young people. A house-wife and mother of three teenagers, Lynda also helps with lambing the farms 2,500 sheep. She is also past president of the local YFC.

Eirian Griffiths, Glandulas Farm, Llangybi, Lampeter, Ceredigion. The entire family helps run the beef and sheep farm which also grows barley and maize, but, Eirian has bred her own small herd of top quality prize winning Welsh Black cattle. Her aim has always been to improve the blood lines and champion the national breed. Eirian supports Llanddewi-Brefi YFC and helps raise money for various charities.

NFU Cymru Deputy President, Stephen James said, "It was very difficult to choose a winner for this year’s Award as the shortlisted finalists were of a very high standard. But they all have one thing in common – complete commitment to their farms and to the industry as a whole."

Andy Woodthorpe, NatWest’s Agricultural Director, the competition’s sponsor, said, "When choosing the winners, the panel of judges looked at a number of different criteria including their part in making the farm a successful economic unit and their contribution to improving the role of women in farming. I have to say Barbara met all the criteria and surpassed our expectations. She will make a very good ambassador for all the other women who farm in Wales."

The winner received £500 and an engraved crystal fruit bowl, while the runners-up received £100 each.