Jessica Williams

Name:  Jessica Williams

Location:  Bryn Crug, Gwynedd 

Email: jessica.williams@agrisgop.cymru

Tel: 07739354148

Specialism(s):   Beef, Sheep, Animal health & welfare, Food Safety, Meat Boxes, Beekeeping

  • Jessica was brought up on an organic hill farm above Harlech, North Wales, farming Pedigree Welsh Black cattle and a flock of Welsh mountain sheep. At the age of 18 she took on the tenancy of a 30-acre small holding and started her own herd of Pedigree Welsh Black cattle and flock of Pedigree Lleyn sheep. Jessica has since enjoyed significant success in the showring, her stock winning Small Herd of the Year 2008, Reserve Female of the Year 2012 and Bull of the Year 2016.
  • In 2008 Jessica was selected as the Welsh Black Cattle Society Young Ambassador, and during her year in office was also fortunate enough to win the Hybu Cig Cymru scholarship which enabled her to travel to Australia to visit farms keeping Welsh Black Cattle and to attend the 2nd International Welsh Black World Conference. The trip to Australia gave her an insight into the beef and sheep industry in Australia, as well as further increasing her knowledge of the agricultural industry.
  • Jessica studied a four-year sandwich course at Cardiff University before gaining a first class (Honours) degree in Environmental Health in 2006. During her placement year, she spent time working in all aspects of Environmental Health which included working with Port Health Authorities and inspecting meat in abattoirs where she gained her qualification as a veterinary auxiliary. She then began her career as an Environmental Health Officer for a local authority specialising in Food Safety. 
  • Jessica, works part-time as an Environment Health Officer covering Food Safety, Infectious Diseases, and Health & Safety, a role she combines with working as an Agrisgôp group leader.  Jessica also farms in partnership with her husband Hugh on their beef and sheep farm in Bryncrug, breeding Welsh Black Cattle, Welsh Mountain and a flock of pedigree Lleyn Sheep. High herd health status in the pedigree herd of Welsh Black Cattle. Jessica is also a keen beekeeper, with her twins lending a helping hand. 
  • An experienced Agrisgôp leader and confident communicator, Jessica has facilitated groups on topics including meat boxes, carbon, beekeeping, wool, glamping, importing new sheep breeds, abattoir, business & innovation, encouraging and enabling many individuals to turn good ideas into reality as they work collaboratively with the common goal of making their respective farm businesses more efficient, more sustainable and more profitable!


Current farm business:

  • 500 acre beef and sheep farm in Bryncrug  
  • 500 Welsh mountain ewes
  • 100 Pedigree Lleyns ewes
  • 90 head Herd of Pedigree Welsh Black cattle
  • Biomass system
  • Beef Boxes- selling direct to final consumer
     

Relevant experience, skills, qualifications 

  • Cardiff University, B.Sc. (First Class Hons) Environmental Health  -  2006
  • Aberystwyth University, Postgraduate Certificate in Change Leadership (Modules in Coaching & Mentoring, Facilitating Organisational Leadership 7 Leading Change).2017-2020.
  • 2016-2017 Farming Connect Agri Academy Rural Leadership Programme.
  • Tesco Future Farming Foundation 2018-2019.
  • NFU Next Generation 2022-2024.
  • Member of the Welsh Food Advisory Committee (WFAC) advising the Food Standards Agency on Food Policy in Wales. 2021-present
  • Led Agrisgôp groups on topics including meat boxes, carbon, dual purpose sheep (meat & wool), beekeeping, glamping, abattoir, sheep breeding-importing new genetics, business & innovation.