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Four young farmers from across Wales have financially benefited from this year’s Gareth Raw Rees Memorial Travel Scholarship. This year has seen the highest amount awarded by the Management Committee to scholars wishing to broaden their knowledge of agriculture, following a donation from the NFU Mutual Charitable Trust.

This year’s awards will be presented by the Chairman of the NFU Mutual Board of Directors, Sir Don Curry, at the Royal Welsh Show, at 11am on Tuesday, 21 July 2009.

Lowri Williams, the main winner, from Betws Gwerfyl Goch, near Corwen, will receive £800 to help her travel to Australia and New Zealand this winter. Lowri intends to look at different farming systems used in both Australia and New Zealand, with particular focus on beef and sheep production. Lowri graduated from Harper Adams University in 2007 after gaining a HND in Agri-Food Marketing with Business Studies and now works for Flintshire County Council as an Agri-Food Officer.

Commenting on her impending visit to Australia and New Zealand, Lowri said, "I am really looking forward to see at first hand how farmers in Australia and New Zealand have innovated and diversified their businesses. I intend to leave in November and plan to work on a number of different farms to learn about their various farming practices." Lowri plans to work with shearing contractors in New Zealand and hopes to develop her wool wrapping skills in order to attempt to qualify for the Welsh team for the 2010 World Championships which will be held at the Royal Welsh Show. Charlie Thomas, also receives £500 from the scholarship towards a week long tour of the Texas area of the United States of America, which has been arranged through the YFC movement, to be followed by a three month visit to Australia, which she has arranged herself. Charlie’s travels will take her away from her family farm and campsite in Talybont-on-Usk, near Brecon, to broaden her knowledge of livestock farming, in particular how farmers in the USA and Australia are adapting their farming methods to cope with the challenges of climate change.

There are two further recipients from the scholarship this year, both receiving £250 to help with their travels.

William Rogers, from Presteigne in Powys, is currently studying for a HND in Agriculture at Aberystwyth University. He will travel to New Zealand this autumn where he will spend some time working and learning about agricultural practices in the country.

Arwel Jenkins, from Llanybydder in Carmarthenshire, is currently working on the family farm and also runs his own contracting business. Arwel will travel to Australia later this year and has arranged to work on a large arable farm for seven months. He hopes to extend his travels by also visiting New Zealand to learn more about their agricultural practices.

The scholarship, which is administered by NFU Cymru was set up in memory of the late Gareth Raw Rees who, for many years, was a delegate on the NFU London Council and Chairman of the NFU Cymru Education Committee. Gareth believed fervently that travel was an important form of education for young people.

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