Patrick Edgington has been announced as the winner of the Idris Davies Memorial Award for 2016 during a ceremony at Pembrokeshire County Show on Tuesday 16th August.
The Idris Davies Memorial Trust award is presented each year to someone who has made an outstanding contribution to agriculture in Pembrokeshire.
Mr Edgington, a well-known and hugely respected figure in agricultural circles throughout Pembrokeshire and beyond, worked for the NFU for over 32 years up to his retirement in 2012.
During his time at the NFU he helped drive the growth of the organisation and until his retirement he managed a team of 28 NFU Group Secretaries throughout south Wales and played an integral role in the recruitment and retention of NFU membership.
His achievements are numerous and varied, however chief among these was the establishment of the Pembrokeshire Potato Marketing Group Ltd in 1981.
This was at a time when early potato growers in the county were facing massive problems as a result of low demand and in the face of an over-supplied market and increasing competition from imported produce.
Patrick was a key player in the creation of the producer co-operative and he played a leading role in the early days of the business and took responsibility for all the promotions work and press relations, sorting the merchant panel and securing the funding for the running of the business.
The co-operative flourished to such an extent that in 1995 it became a private limited company and renamed as Puffin Produce Ltd.
It has continued to grow and expand into a multi-million pound business which now packs around 35,000 tonnes of Welsh potatoes each year, with around 125 team members now working at its headquarters in Withybush.
Milk quotas
The imposition of milk quotas in 1984 was a savage blow to many farm businesses and Patrick was a huge source of help and support to many farmers in the county at this challenging time.
As well as being a trusted confidant and a shoulder to cry on, he also went above and beyond the call of duty in helping many farmers find ways of re-financing their businesses and during this period he became known to every senior director of every major high street bank in the country.
Through his negotiating skills, he helped find solutions for many NFU members. It was during this extremely tough period that he also established the first links of the farming community with the Samaritans charity and these links continue to this day.
From 1979 to 1990 he was the Honorary Treasurer for the Pembrokeshire Federation of Young Farmers’ Clubs and Honorary Secretary to the Pembrokeshire branch of the RABI charity.
Patrick’s noteworthy achievements were recognised earlier this year when he was awarded the MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List for services to agriculture and the rural community.
