Carl Poole, from Meifod, Powys, has been announced as the winner of the 2014 NFU Cymru / NFU Mutual Welsh Dairy Stockperson of the Year Award during today’s Welsh Dairy Show at Nantyci, Carmarthenshire.
The competition, now in its third year, recognises the key role a good dairy stockperson can make to a dairy enterprise and to the Welsh dairy industry as a whole.
Carl Poole works for Jonathan Wilkinson of Dyffryn Farm, Meifod, near Welshpool. After leaving school, Carl, who comes from a non-farming background, began his career on a beef and sheep farm while attending college, he then went on to work on a dairy farm, before eventually taking on a role of herdsman at Dyffryn almost a decade ago. He manages an expanding herd of 300 Holstein pedigree cows with approximately 220 followers.
Jonathan Wilkinson, Carl’s employer who nominated him for the award said, “Carl’s input is fundamental to the success of our business. He works closely with me and our farm consultant regarding every decision on our pedigree herd. Over the years he has grown in confidence and ability and truly stepped up to the mark when I was temporarily forced to step back from the business last year due to illness.”
Presenting Carl with the top prize of £300 and a Welsh slate engraved cheese board Aled Jones, Chairman of NFU Cymru’s Milk Board said, “We received a record number of entries this year, but what struck me and my fellow judges the most was the high standards amongst those who work in the dairy industry - it is reassuring and heartening to see. So many Welsh farms would not be the successful economic units they are if it wasn’t for the continuous and reliable efforts put in by employees like Carl.”
Dai Davies OBE, Chairman of NFU Mutual’s Advisory Board in Wales said, “We truly do have some superb stockpeople involved in the dairy industry in Wales and we are delighted that for the first time in the award’s history to award a farm employee whose contribution to the farm is second to none.”
Mair James, Welsh Dairy Show Secretary said, “This is the third year that a Welsh Dairy Stockperson of the Year has been crowned at the Welsh Dairy Show and we are delighted to be able to recognise and honour a fully deserving champion with this award.”
