'Determined' dairy farmer who battled bTB given industry award

A Pembrokeshire dairy farmer who created a future herd after losing many of the family pedigrees to bovine TB has won an industry award for his 'determination and passion'.

Harri Vaughan, from Tufton, was handed the Dairy Stockperson of the Year Award at this week's Welsh Dairy Show.

The competition, now in its 10th year, recognises the contribution a good stockperson can make to a dairy enterprise, as well as the wider industry.

Award judges heard Harri's backstory, as he was raised on his grandparent’s dairy farm with his parents also becoming involved in the business many years ago.

When he was eight months old he would go with his grandmother to feed the cows and would carry around a bucket, where his passion for dairy farming began.

He studied agriculture at Hartpury College and spent a year on a dairy farm during his placement.

Judges heard that Harri plays a vital role in running and managing the dairy, beef and sheep farm and, along with his wife Hannah, has more recently achieved his childhood dream of buying the neighbouring farm, which both his father and grandfather previously worked on.

He manages the overall farm as well as the dairy herd which has recently grown from 250 to 450 cows, with further plans to expand to 500 dairy cows.

All the day-to-day tasks are done by Harri, including milking, feeding, AI, and animal husbandry. He also deals with the in-calf heifers, bulling heifers and the weaned cows.

Harri is involved with all aspects of care and management of the farm and stock, the award judges heard.

He has a passion for breeding on the farm and works on the fertility programmes for the stock, choosing all the bulls for the cows and heifers.

After the business took a huge knock with bovine TB just over a year ago, where he lost many of the family pedigrees, his "determination to come back better and stronger and to create a future herd that he is proud of is plain to see".

Harri also showcases his daily farming life on Instagram and also takes part in FarmerTime with his wife Hannah.

NFU Cymru dairy board chair, Jonathan Wilkinson congratulated Harri on winning this award, adding that the standard of entries in this year’s competition were extremely high.

"Harri’s passion and positivity for the future of the dairy industry here in Wales, meant he stood out during the judging process.

"From the moment we met him, Harri’s enthusiasm for dairy farming was clear to see and we were delighted to present him with this award today."