News

27 - November - 2006Julie Davies Is Wales Top Woman Farmer

Julie Davies from Crai near Brecon has today been crowned NFU Cymru / Natwest Wales Woman Farmer of the Year at the Royal Welsh Winter Fair.

[ Eleri Wyn Williams (Runner Up), Martin Doyle (NatWest), Julie Davies (Winner), Edmund Bailey (NFU Cymru Vice President) and Leslie Wickham (Runner Up) ]

Now in its tenth year, the competition aims to celebrate the often forgotten contribution that women make to Welsh farming.  Previous winners have gone on to hold key roles in the industry and win other awards.

On winning the award Julie said, “I’m really pleased to have won but I really couldn’t have done it without the support of my family.”

Julie Davies of Glwydcaenewydd Farm, Crai has played an active role on the family 300 acre beef and sheep farm for 17 years. She has three children. She has recently helped to set up a gourmet mushroom business which has achieved a True Taste of Wales award last year and a CLA Award this year.  As well as selling the mushrooms at local markets Julie has recently won a contract to supply mushrooms to Welsh Waitrose stores.                          

Julie was nominated for the Wales Woman Farmer of the Year Award by her husband, Keri, who she helps in the running of his large contracting business. In her spare time she plays an active role in establishing a £100,000 lottery grant for the local village hall and is an active member of YFC.      

The two runners up are: Lesley Wickham and Eleri Wyn Williams.

Lesley Wickham of Cwmchwefru Farm, Llanafanfawr.  Lesley specialises in rare-breed sheep, cattle and goats. She designs and knits using wool from her sheep, specially bred for high quality and natural colours. Lesley has been farming in her own right for over 30 years and follows her own ideas relentlessly. Lesley takes every opportunity to encourage the use of wool.

Eleri Wyn Williams of Rhoslefain, Tywyn was nominated by her aunty for her determination in the farming world.  She took over the family farm after her father died 16 years ago and has taken on more land and increased stocking levels whilst caring for her elderly mother and disabled brother. Eleri, in her spare time, has been a member of Côr Dysynni choir for several years and is a swimmer and an excellent fisherwoman.

“Once again it was very difficult to choose a winner for this year’s Award as the shortlisted finalists were of a very high standard,” admits Natwest’s Agricultural Director, Martin Doyle, the competition’s sponsor.  “But they all have one thing in common – complete commitment to their farms and to the industry as a whole.”

NFU Cymru Vice-President, Ed Bailey, said, “It is truly astounding how these women manage to fit so much into their lives.  They successfully combine running a busy farm with raising a family and more often than not, also play a role in local community life and other organisations.  They really are the backbone of Welsh family farming.”

 The winner received £500 and an engraved crystal fruit bowl, while the runners up received £100 each.