17 January 2025
Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs & Climate Change, Huw Irranca-Davies, has congratulated each of the winners and nominees for the Lantra Cymru Awards 2024. Attending this year’s awards celebration event (16 January) held at the Metropole Hotel, Llandrindod Wells, the Deputy First Minister described this year’s candidates as ‘the best of the best’, whose contribution to Welsh farming and the land-based sectors is doing so much to help modernise and safeguard the future of the industry.
“Your professionalism, your willingness to embrace innovation and new technologies and your commitment to both personal and business development is already contributing greatly to sustainable farming in Wales. This not only helps to build capacity but also creates the step change in behaviour that will soon be a crucial part of our new Sustainable Farming Scheme,” said the Deputy First Minister.
Now in its 30th year, the Awards recognise the lifelong learning achievements of workers whose hard work, skills and abilities are of benefit not only to agriculture, horticulture and forestry but to the wider rural agenda in Wales, to the rural economy and to the communities where they live and work.
“Each nominee’s clear commitment to continuous professional development and their individual achievements within the environmental and land-based sectors is hugely important to our industry.
“It is this thirst for learning, your confidence in your own abilities and your willingness to innovate and use new technologies, that is so valuable to not only your own career pathway but to the sustainability, professionalism and modernisation of Welsh agriculture.
“You are following in the footsteps of some of Wales’ most successful and effective farmers, stock people, industry ambassadors and rural experts – the best of the best! Each one of you has demonstrated the qualities and skills it takes to be nominated, and you clearly have the stand-out ability to be selected,” said the Deputy First Minister.
This year’s awards provided an opportunity for all those in the industry to pay tribute to the achievements of the students and trainees nominated. Attended by the Deputy First Minister and by those working in the agriculture, horticulture and forestry sectors throughout Wales, they were joined by representatives from key rural stakeholder organisations, together with many of the land-based training providers and rural colleges in Wales approved to deliver Farming Connect services.
During the celebration event, the Minister also presented two special awards. This year’s Brynle Williams Memorial Award was awarded to young farmer Dafydd Elfyn Owen from Llanddoged, near Abergele. Mr Owen, supported through Farming Connect’s ‘Start to Farm’ initiative (formerly the Venture programme) and described as an ‘outstanding’ young farmer and ‘inspiring ambassador for new entrants’, is now in a joint venture partnership in North Wales where his day-to-day management and strategic input is enabling his new share farming partners to continue their journey towards a sustainable, regenerative farming future.
The Minister also announced that the Lantra Cymru Lifetime Achievement Award for 2024 was awarded to well-known Pembrokeshire dairy farmer, chair of the Wales Animal Health & Welfare Steering Group, rural figurehead and champion of rural affairs, Stephen James FRAgS of Gelliolau, Clynderwen.
A full list of all the Lantra Cymru 2024 Award recipients is available on the Farming Connect website click here