Carmarthenshire farmer Iwan Francis winner of NFU Cymru Dairy Stockperson

Dairy farmer Iwan Francis accepts his award at the Welsh Dairy Show
Dairy farmer Iwan Francis accepts his award at the Welsh Dairy Show

Iwan Francis of Talog, Carmarthenshire, has been announced as the winner of the 2016 NFU Cymru/ NFU Mutual Welsh Dairy Stockperson of the Year Award.

The competition, now in its fifth year, recognises the important contribution a good dairy stockperson can make to a dairy enterprise, as well as the wider Welsh dairy industry.

Iwan, 31, studied at Gelli Aur Agricultural College and later Aberystwyth University, where he gained a degree in Agriculture and Business and was awarded the RWAS Agricultural Student of the Year title.

His first experience of working in the dairy sector came at ManIwan, Bryn Iwan during his college studies.

He later went on to spend a year in New Zealand, working at a 1,300 cow unit in Invercargill on the South Island and a 550 cow unit in Hamilton on the North Island.

He now has his own herd of 200 dairy cows, a mixture of both New Zealand Friesians and Jersey crosses, at Nantglas, a rented farm in Carmarthenshire.

'Very high standard'

During a presentation at the Welsh Dairy Show on Tuesday 25 October, Iwan was presented with the top prize of £300 and a Welsh slate engraved cheese board by Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Rural Affairs, Lesley Griffiths AM and NFU Cymru Milk Board Chairman Aled Jones.

Speaking after the presentation, NFU Cymru Milk Board Chairman Aled Jones said: “The standard of this year’s Welsh Dairy Stockperson of the Year Award entries were very high, but Iwan’s dedication, experience and expertise really impressed us.

Dai Davies OBE, Chairman of NFU Mutual’s Advisory Board in Wales, said: “This award is about highlighting the fact that Wales has some of the finest, most passionate stockpeople that you will find anywhere in the world.

“Iwan’s application ticked every box that we were looking for so it’s pleasing that we’ve been able to showcase his contribution to the industry with this award.”