FUW Christmas card boost for charities

The Farmers' Union of Wales president's chosen charities - Ty Hafan and Ty Gobaith children's hospices - will be the big winners thanks to the union's annual children's competition to design a Christmas card with a farming theme that once again attracted hundreds of entries.

A selection of cards will form a colourful centrepiece to the FUW's stand at the Royal Welsh Winter Fair in Builth Wells on December 1 and 2 where the public will be able to purchase the winners' cards in packs of 10 for £5 with the proceeds going to the hospices.

FUW president Emyr Jones said: "The competition was a great success again, attracting hundreds of entries from across Wales.

"I would like to thank every child who entered and tell them that without their participation the contest would not have been such a success. I would also like to express my gratitude to the staff at the schools up and down the country that assisted the FUW in the running of the competition.

"It gave children in urban and rural areas of Wales an opportunity to connect with the farming industry and express their thoughts in a creative and colourful way. I believe it is vital that we as farmers maintain a strong link with young people so that they understand the way that food is produced in this country."


The competition was split into two categories - English and Welsh designs. The Welsh category was won by nine-year-old Lucy Beddowes from Ysgol Llanarth, Ceredigion, whose design shows Santa Claus driving a blue tractor through the snow accompanied by a red robin with the wheels of the tractor decorated like a Christmas bauble.

The winner of the English category was ten-year-old Drew Morris from Ysgol yr Eglwys yng Nghymru, Llangors, Breconshire, whose design shows a farmer dressed as Santa Claus riding a "Merry Ferguson" tractor in the snow followed by ducks wearing Christmas hats.

Both win a £30 gift voucher for themselves, a packet of the cards depicting their design and a £50 cheque for their school.