Seven young farmers from across Wales have financially benefited from this year’s Gareth Raw Rees Memorial Travel Scholarship.
A total of £3,800 has been awarded by the management committee to scholars wishing to broaden their knowledge of agriculture, following a donation from the National Farmers’ Union (NFU) Mutual Charitable Trust.
This year’s awards were presented by Jim McLaren MBE, chairman of NFU Mutual’s board of directors at the Royal Welsh Show.
This year’s main winner is Manon Lewis who receives £1,200 to help fund her travels to New Zealand.
22-year-old Manon, from Meifod in Powys, will shortly be graduating from Harper Adams University with a degree in Agriculture with Animal Science.
The award will help fund a four-month study trip to New Zealand to learn more about livestock farming.
Scholarship recipients
There are six further recipients from the scholarship this year who are each receiving a financial contribution to help with their travels.
Sioned Davies, from Merthyr Cynog near Brecon, receives £750 towards a
six-month trip to the USA and South America. The 24-year-old will take a sabbatical from her role as a Product Development Executive with Oxbury Bank to advance her knowledge and understanding of agriculture.”
Daniel Evans, a 20-year-old beef and sheep farmer from Silian, near Lampeter, also receives £750.
He will spend six months in New Zealand where he hopes to learn more about their grassland management and utilisation of forage crops.
Also New Zealand bound is 20-year-old Teleri Morgan from Bow Street, near Aberystwyth and she receives £500 towards a three-month trip to New Zealand.
She is currently studying Agriculture and Animal Science at Aberystwyth University.
Three of the recipients from the scholarship this year will each receive £200 to help with their travels.
Richard Jones, from Dolgellau, who studied at Reaseheath College before taking over the running of the family farm, receives £200 towards a two-week trip to Japan.
Richard is also a member of the NFU Cymru Next Generation group.
Elliw Dafydd, from Silian near Lampeter, receives £200 towards a two-week trip to Peru as part of the NFYFC International Programme.
Elliw works as a freelance actor alongside her role on the family dairy farm, which has recently diversified by setting up a milk vending business.
Rhodri Williams, from Whitland in Carmarthenshire, is currently studying for a masters degree in Agricultural Engineering at Harper Adams University and he receives £200 towards a two-week trip to Southern Europe.
Rhodri is currently on an industrial work placement for Claas machinery at their headquarters in Harsewinkel, Germany.
