NFU Cymru recognises farmers’ contribution to local community with new award

NFU Cymru is launching a new Award that recognises the vital role farmers play in their local community with the Award winner receiving a top prize of £500 and two runners-up getting £100 each.

The new ’Welsh Rural Community Champion Award’ is sponsored by NatWest bank. Applications are invited from throughout Wales from those farmers who use what little spare time they have away from the farm in helping their local community.

Ed Bailey, Vice President of NFU Cymru said, "We want to recognise the hard work farmers do off the farm in order to help their local town or village community. Potential award winners could be involved, for example, with their local agricultural show, community events, choir and all sorts of things which play an important part in making a thriving community."

The closing date for entries is Friday, 12 June and the winner will be announced at this year’s Royal Welsh Show.

Sadly, this Award replaces the NFU Cymru / Natwest Farm Employee of the Year Award as entries over the past couple of years have been dwindling in the same way as the number of farm employees have been decreasing in the industry. The Farm Employee of the Year Award ran for four years.

Martin Doyle, Director of Agriculture for Wales and the Borders for NatWest Bank said, "These are tough times for the banking industry but NatWest Bank recognises the important value of local farmers in their local communities and we are very happy to continue supporting the good work NFU Cymru does in recognising these important farming roles."

Anyone interested in entering for the Award should contact NFU Cymru for more details and an application form. Write to: Helen Evans, NFU Cymru, Welsh Community Champion Award, Ty Amaeth / Agriculture House, Royal Welsh Showground, Builth Wells, Powys, LD2 3TU. Email: helen.evans@nfu.org.uk or telephone: 01982 554200.