Dairy Stockperson of the Year Award winners announced

25 October 2022

The winners of the Dairy Stockperson of the Year Award receiving their Award

Pictured L-R: NFU Cymru President Aled Jones; Nerys and Twm Roberts (collecting the award on behalf of their sons Sion and Gareth); NFU Cymru/NFU Mutual Group Secretary and competition judge Rhys Williams; NFU Cymru Deputy President and competition judge Abi Reader

Sion and Gareth Roberts, from Bodorgan, Anglesey have been announced as the winners of the 2022 NFU Cymru / NFU Mutual Welsh Dairy Stockperson of the Year Award at the Welsh Dairy Show.

The competition, now in its ninth year, recognises the important contribution a good dairy stockperson can make to a dairy enterprise, as well as the wider Welsh dairy industry.

The presentation

During a presentation at the Welsh Dairy Show on Tuesday 25 October, Sion and Gareth were presented with the top prize of £500 and a Welsh slate engraved cheese board by NFU Cymru Deputy President Abi Reader and Rhys Williams, NFU Cymru / NFU Mutual Group Secretary in Llandeilo, who judged the competition.

About the farm

The Roberts brothers, who farm 480 dairy cows and followers and produce approximately five million litres of milk, with their father Twm, have grown up on the family farm and have grown the business significantly. They have overseen a large expenditure on infrastructure in recent years, replacing their old parlour with a new rotary parlour. This has also meant that milking times have lessened, helping with the well-being of the family.

They have diversified and now have a milk vending machine, located at the top of the farm lane, and also welcome schools on to the farm regularly for educational visits.

Teamwork

Sion and Gareth work together to complete and manage all aspects of managing the dairy herd, the milking, feeding, breeding, housing and health management. They liaise proactively with their nutritionist and vets to ensure the welfare of animals on the farm is kept to a very high standard to ensure optimum milk production. They are also working on reducing their antibiotic usage.

Speaking after the presentation, NFU Cymru Dairy Board Chair Abi Reader said: “I would like to offer my congratulations to Sion and Gareth on winning this award.

"While the standard of entries in this year’s competition was particularly high, Sion and Gareth’s passion for their work, their determination to drive the business forward and embrace new technologies, along with their eagerness to invite school children on to the farm to tell the Welsh farming story, meant that they stood out during the judging process. They join some illustrious company in being awarded the Welsh Dairy Stockperson of the Year title and this win is thoroughly deserved.”

High calibre of entries

Rhys Williams, NFU Cymru/NFU Mutual Group Secretary, added: “It has been a privilege to be a part of the judging process for this fantastic competition. The standard of entries this year has highlighted the high calibre of the people we have working in the Welsh dairy sector. Sion and Gareth demonstrated their passion for new technologies and their diversification shows they are planning for the future.”

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