9 February 2021
“Every nominee for this year’s Lantra Cyrmu Awards scheme has demonstrated their commitment to lifelong learning, to increasing efficiency, introducing innovation and maintaining the highest standards across all areas of working,” said Lesley Griffiths, Minister for Environment, Energy and Rural Affairs.
Due to the restrictions of Covid 19, which meant the award scheme had to be organised and judged remotely, the Minister pre-recorded a message released today (Tuesday, February 9) in which she named all this year’s award winners, thanking and congratulating all the nominees as well participants from previous years.
Leading Welsh agriculturalist Mr Peter Rees, chair of Lantra Wales, chaired this year’s selection panel, which included agricultural figurehead and academic Professor Wynne Jones and journalist Gaina Morgan.
Mr Rees said that the event was always one of the highlights of the annual Welsh farming calendar adding that it was testament to all the industry’s rural stakeholders, including colleges and training providers, that despite the pandemic they had identified and nominated many outstanding individuals.
“The Lantra Cymru Awards scheme, now in its 26th year, rewards the lifelong learning achievements of the many workers who, through their skills and abilities, contribute not only to farming but to the wider rural agenda in Wales, our rural economy and to the communities where they live and work.
“Each nominee’s clear commitment to continuous professional development and achievements within the environmental and land-based sectors, is doing so much to maintain professional, up to date standards within our industry.
“Each one of them is making a significant contribution, not only within their own particular area of working, but to the sustainability and modernisation of Welsh agriculture long term,” said Mr Rees.
Farming Connect is delivered by Menter a Busnes and Lantra Wales and funded by the Welsh Government and the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development.
Lantra Cymru Awards 2021 – categories and winners
Lifetime Achievement Award – which recognises an individual who has made an ‘outstanding and significant’ contribution to Welsh agriculture.
Winner: Brian Rees, Llandrindod Wells
Brian Rees is a professional farm safety trainer and consultant, a farmer, friend and mentor to many. He has dedicated his life to improving health and safety within the land-based sectors. A past chair of the Wales Farm Safety Partnership and approved Farming Connect health and safety mentor, he has been a true ambassador for this important cause.
The judging panel said that Mr Rees had raised awareness of what has for too long been a poor safety record within farming, while also providing training to hundreds of farmers over many years. They said that Mr Rees’ knowledge and understanding of both farm safety and training is immense and were unanimous in agreeing that he is an outstanding and very deserving winner of this year’s Lifetime Achievement Award.
Brynle Williams Award – this award was established in 2011 in honour of the late Mr. Williams’ considerable contribution to Welsh agriculture as both an AM and highly regarded farmer. It recognises the achievements of a young farmer who has found his way into a farming business through Farming Connect’s Venture programme.
Winner: Emyr Owen, Bodrach, Pandy Tudur, North Wales.
At the end of 2018, Emyr Owen and his next door neighbour Gwydion Jones realised that combining forces in a new joint dairy business partnership, which included members of their respective families, would make sound commercial sense. Thanks to business and legal support available through the Farming Connect Venture programme, Emyr is now a partner of a new joint dairy enterprise. It has a new rotary milking parlour centrally located between the two farms, with the longer-term progress and sustainability of the venture secure.
The judging panel said that Emyr had demonstrated drive, ambition and focus and is a worthy winner of this year’s Brynle Williams Memorial Award.
Farming Connect Awards - open to nominees who have strengthened their personal skill set and business efficiency thanks to training undertaken training through Farming Connect’s lifelong learning and development programme.
Farming Connect Farm Innovation Award – this award celebrates the efforts of individual who has demonstrated innovation and flexibility within a farming system through engagement with Farming Connect support.
Winner: Osian Williams, Welshpool.
Osian is a modern and progressive farmer who has successfully incorporated new techniques and best practices into both the poultry enterprise and renewable energy generation side of the business. The judging panel said that Osian has proved he is a versatile and progressive farmer who is passionate about achieving high performance. His willingness to trial and implement new systems or products that have enabled him to become more efficient and sustainable makes him a very worthy winner of this award.
Farming Connect Young Learner Award for individuals under 40 - this award goes to an individual able to demonstrate how continuous professional development has helped both their personal skills and business efficiency.
Runner up: Marged Sian Simons.
Marged works at her family’s dairy farm in Coxlake, near Narberth. Marged is successfully applying her own science-based analytical and technical skills plus her newly acquired knowledge at both her family farm and in her equine diversification project. Marged is also passionate about her work with LEAF, taking messages to young children in school about where their food comes from.
The judging panel felt that Marged’s determination and focus to succeed will make her a significant asset to the agricultural industry.
Winner: Gerallt Hughes, Ffridd Nantlle, Caernarfon.
Gerallt and his family have a 2,500 acre upland beef and sheep holding which includes a new red deer enterprise established by Gerallt, plus two large hydro generation plants.
From a large group of excellent candidates all of whom showed huge commitment to their chosen sector, Gerallt demonstrated both a level of enthusiasm and technical knowledge that ensured he stood out amongst his peers.
With an appetite to continue his personal development, he is clearly receptive to new developments and the panel was confident that he fully represented the calibre of entrant that the industry needs.
The panel said that Gerallt is an excellent ambassador for the land-based industries and the importance of education and training.
They said his energy and commitment has helped drive forward a successful growing business and diversification enterprise into both red deer and renewable energy, while also remaining committed to sustainable farming practices.
Lifelong Learner of the Year Award for individuals over 40
Runner up: Helen Hall, Rhydlewis, Ceredigion
Helen Hall is a new entrant to farming who runs a sheep enterprise in Rhydlewis, Ceredigion. Helen has undertaken not only numerous accredited short courses but every e-learning course on sheep health and husbandry available through Farming Connect.
The judges said that despite being new to farming Helen has shown impressive determination to gain the essential skills and knowledge she puts into practice every day to run her successful smallholding in an efficient and sustainable manner.
Winner: Debbie Morgan, Abergavenny
Debbie works as herdsperson on a 200 high yielding Holstein dairy unit with robotic milkers and also farms her own smallholding with suckler cows near Abergavenny. This year Debbie has completed courses on calf management, DIY AI and cattle foot trimming.
The judges were impressed by Debbie’s approach and enthusiasm for acquiring a range of valuable skills which have helped maintain the productivity, health and mobility of the 200 strong high yielding milking herd, youngstock and calves she looks after.
Farming Connect Animal Health and Welfare Award - This award, new this year, recognises individuals who have effectively applied learning gained through the Farming Connect Animal Health and Welfare programme at their place of work.
Joint runner up
Christine Vaughan, Crymych, Pembrokeshire
Christine is a beef and sheep farmer. Thanks to attending a range of Farming Connect animal health and welfare workshops, she now works closely with her local vet and is implementing changes which are helping her identify, reduce the risk, and manage any animal health issues. The judges were impressed with Christine’s keen interest in attending workshops on both dairy and red meat topics, using the opportunity of working with her local vet to receive practical guidance on how to make changes to reduce the risk of various animal health issues. Her new skills have helped her introduce small changes which have improved both productivity and efficiency across a number of areas.
Joint runner up, Angharad Bennett, Cilycwm, Llandovery.
Angharad is a beef and sheep farmer who has taken part in a number of animal health and welfare workshops covering the dairy and red meat sectors. She has increased her recognition of animal health issues, putting her new knowledge into practice and adapting farm protocols to reduce disease transmission. The judging panel were impressed with her strong commitment to increasing efficiency and the farm now routinely vaccinates for BVD and carries out blood testing for Johne's Disease within the beef herd.
Farming Connect Animal Health and Welfare award
Winner: Bridget Barnes, Forest Coal Pit, Abergavenny.
Beef and sheep farmer Bridget Barnes has attended six Farming Connect animal health and welfare workshops and is putting into practice all she has learned. She now recognises clinical signs of disease and puts in place appropriate treatment and control measures. The judging panel was impressed with Bridget’s commitment and enthusiasm to increasing her skillset and her determination to achieve the highest standards of animal health and welfare. She is now part of various cattle health schemes and can see the benefits of implementing small changes on the farm, to reduce the risk of disease being spread and animal health issues impacting negatively on the business.