Four farmers who make an incredible contribution to their local communities have been shortlisted for the NFU Cymru / NatWest Welsh Rural Community Champion Award, with the winner being announced on the last day of the Royal Welsh Show.
The competition, which was launched last year, recognises the hard work farmers do off the farm in order to help their local town or village community. The Award winner will receive the top prize of £500 and an engraved Welsh slate clock and two runners-up get £100 each.
NFU Cymru Deputy President, Stephen James, said, "I am very pleased that this Award has really grabbed peoples’ attention. When short-listing we looked for farmers who contributed to the wider community. Sustainability of rural areas depends on more than us farmers. Conversely, it promotes our role when we are fully immersed in the workings of village life."
The finalists for the Award come from Glamorgan, Breconshire and Clwyd. They are:
Eira Edwards, Hendre Ifan Goch Farm, Blackmill, Bridgend. Eira hosts community fun days on her farm as well as YFC competition days, hosts Open Farm Sunday events annually and participates in Farmhouse Breakfast Week and gives Farming in the Classroom talks. Amongst the many organisations Eira is an active member of she is part of Glamorgan WFU, Blackmill Regeneration & Heritage Group, Bridgend Environment Partnership and Llantrisant YFC. The 250 acre hill farm has sheep and deer and has diversified into fishing lakes with a café and function rooms.
Christopher Davies, Cwmachau Farm, Lower Chapel, Brecon. Christopher was nominated by his daughter who said on his application form: "He truly is an inspiration and no words can describe how proud of him his whole family are. He enjoys every club, organisation, committee he is a member of." Christopher is a keen member of the local parish church; he is chairman for the local hall committee, has been a YFC leader for many years; sits on the board of governors for local primary school; Treasurer and singing for Aberhonddu male voice choir as well as farming on his own arable and mixed farm.
Gareth and Falmai Roberts, Tal y Bryn, Llannefydd, Denbigh. Together the couple are the owner directors of Llaeth y Llan / Village Dairy and run a farmhouse bed and breakfast. Gareth is President of the Denbigh Rotary Club, he has been a local community councillor for several years and has been nominated from Clwyd to be on the Council of the Royal Welsh Agricultural Society. Falmai is a member of the board of Denbigh and Flint show; is a member of the local Inner Wheel Club; for the past eight years she has been secretary of the senior citizen club and has been deacon and treasurer of the local chapel in Cefn Berain for nearly 10 years.
Andy Woodthorpe, NatWest’s Director – Rural Wales Banking said, "We really have had a tremendous amount of applications for this year’s award and it was extremely difficult to get down to a shortlist of three. We are grateful to all those who put applications in."
The winner of the NFU Cymru / NatWest Welsh Rural Community Champion Award will be announced at the NFU Cymru stand at 11.30am on Thursday, 22 July, of the Royal Welsh Show.
