Delyth davies is top woman farmer
Delyth Davies from Penybontfawr, Llanfyllin, has today been crowned NFU Cymru / Natwest Wales Woman Farmer of the year at the Royal Welsh Winter Fair.
Now in its ninth year, the Award aims to celebrate the often forgotten contribution that women make to Welsh farming. Previous winners have gone on to hold key roles in the industry and win other awards.
On winning the award Delyth said, "I am stunned and thrilled to have won this award. I'm sure there are lots of other women who put in the same amount of hours as I do and deserve this recognition more so than me."
Delyth Davies of Ty Nant Farm, Penybontfawr, Oswestry, who was nominated by her daughter Elinor, has shown the ability to turn her hand to anything over the past 20 years from lambing and calving, to preparing wages to more recently getting to grips with agricultural software on the computer.
She is involved in many local organisations including a governor at the school, a consultative member and past president of the local YFC, an organist and a harpist. Her main contribution to the rural village is the management and running of the village shop and post office. Delyth and her late husband bought the shop four years ago and she has worked hard, without any previous experience, to make the business grow.
Delyth, aged 50, and her son Eifion, aged 24, took over full responsibility of the 700 acre beef and sheep farm following her husband, Hywel's, death in a farm accident last September. The hill farm has 1,300 sheep and 70 suckler cows.
In her application for the award, Delyth's daughter, Elinor who is a teacher in Cardiff, wrote, "My mother is an inspiration to us all. Her support and vast experience have been a huge support to my brother as he, a young lad, begins his agricultural career earlier than anticipated. With her community work she has raised women's role in agriculture and shows an excellent example to the next generation of farmers."
The two runners up are: Gwenfair Jones and Jenny Davies.
Gwenfair Jones of Hafod Yr Esgob Isa Farm, Cwmtirmynach, Bala, has developed her Welsh Black cattle herd business single-handedly over the past 20 years. As well as running the business, she has brought up her two sons, who now farm in partnership. She is the previous President of the Welsh Black Cattle Society, is involved in the local YFC and is a Governor at the local primary school.
Jenny Davies, of Llwynhelyg Farm and shop, Sarnau, Ceredigion runs the 75 acre farm with her husband. In 1987 they decided that the farm was not large enough to support a young family so they diversified and opened what is now a very successful, award winning, farm shop. Jenny is active in the local community with encouraging healthy eating at the local schools and is involved with the YFC.
"Once again it was very difficult to choose a winner for this year's Award as the shortlisted finalists were of a very high standard," admits Natwest's Regional Agricultural Manager Martin Doyle, the competition's sponsor. "But they all have one thing in common - complete commitment to their farms and to the industry as a whole."
NFU Cymru Deputy President Dai Davies agrees. "The old saying is behind every great man there is a great woman, well I would say behind every great farm business there is a great woman. It really is astounding how these women manage to fit so much into their lives, they really are the backbone of Welsh family farming."
The winner received £500 and a crystal fruit bowl, while the two runners up received £100. The judges looked for women who demonstrated the part they play in making the farm a successful economic unit; their contribution to improving the role of women in farming and their involvement in local community life and other organisations.
