NFU Cymru's Next Generation Group 2022

Awel is also a Partner and Solicitor with specialist agricultural law firm, Agri Advisor and is based from their Bala and Welshpool offices.

Awel studied at Aberystwyth University and at the College of Law in Chester before qualifying as a Solicitor in 2013. She has extensive experience in advising clients about wills and succession planning, probate and the administration of agricultural estates and Inheritance Tax planning.

A fluent Welsh speaker, Awel is also passionate about providing rural enterprises with holistic advice through her role as a Director of Rural Advisor Ltd, a company that specialises in advising rural businesses. Awel is a member of the Agricultural Law Association, the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners and an Agri Academy Alumni.

Bryn started on an organic dairy farm and gained experience there over four years, before securing a council farm tenancy in Pembrokeshire. He now runs a flock of 80 milking ewes milking once a day from grass. He also runs a small herd of breeding Alpacas alongside the replacement ewe lambs.

Milk is processed into cheese and ice cream by their brand Ewenique Dairy. They recently launched Wales' first and only Ewe Whey Vodka under Ewenique Spirits who were recently shortlisted for the Innovation Award at the Wales Food & Drink Awards.

Bryn was part of Farming Connect's 2021 Agri Academy winning the Business and Innovation Challenge and recently received the Brynle Williams Memorial Award for young farmers.

Determined to follow in her father’s footsteps as he relinquishes the responsibility and day-to-day work on the upland farm, Bryony is steadily building up her knowledge, experience and expertise in the farming industry and strives to improve her flock health, build business value and increase profitability.

She has expanded into various tourism diversification, is exploring renewable energy and environmental schemes and plans to develop her woodland which she hopes will lead to increased biodiversity along with providing an area for further diversification options.

Proud to be a female farmer, Bryony works hard to promote diversity in the industry and raise awareness of mental health in agriculture. “My ambition is to be a role model for others, providing support and demonstrating my contribution to the industry in hope to inspire and motivate others.” 

Carys started investing in her own pedigree animals at the age of 17, and has a real passion for genetics, showing and the promotion of the Holstein breed.

She completed the RABDF Entrepreneurs in Dairying Course in 2020 and was awarded the RWAS Oxford Farming Conference Scholarship in 2019. She has been an active member of both Gwent YFC and South Wales Holstein Young Breeders Club, competing in National stockjudging, public speaking and drama competitions.

Carys is a keen advocate of UK agriculture, using social media platforms to engage and educate consumers about the story behind their food.

I've always had a passion for agriculture, and have taken full advantage of any opportunities that have come my way. To gain as much information as possible, I studied BSc Agriculture with Animal Science at Aberystwyth University, and in recent years I have undertaken a variety of industry courses to increase my skills, in which I have been recognised recently by winning the Farming Connect Young Learner of Year at the Lantra Wales Awards.

I am always keen to help promote agriculture by educating the younger generation, and be part of discussion groups to move our industry forward. 

I am the ninth generation of my family to farm our land. After University I spent a brief period working and traveling through New Zealand gaining experiences on large dairy herds. I’m passionate about sustainable farming practices in particular within the dairy industry and tackling climate change. Outside the farm I spend my time kayaking having played canoe polo for the Welsh under 21 team.  

Also a keen beekeeper with an on-farm apiary with the help of my nine-year-old twins. Graduated with a First-Class Honours degree in Environmental Health at Cardiff and went on to a further Postgraduate Certificate in Leading Change through Aberystwyth University.

In 2021 my husband and I started a business selling our Native Breed meat direct to the final consumer through meat boxes sold from the farm using our local abattoir, reducing food miles and allowing local people to consume meat that has been born and bred on our farm in their local area.

In January 2022, Katie completed the Worshipful Company of Farmers Challenge of Rural Leadership Course, and also attended the Oxford Farming Conference as the 2022 RWAS Scholar. She is an Alumni of the Rural Leadership Agri Academy and the Tesco Future Farmer Foundation, as well as being a member of the Future Farmers of Wales and a part of the Policy Committee.

Katie has been very involved with the Young Farmers Club movement, having finished as Wales YFC Chairman in September 2021, undertaking two years in the role. She has also been a past Pembrokeshire YFC Chairman and Chairman of her club, Llysyfran. She has held numerous other roles at club, county, Wales and national levels.

She is also currently Chairman of the Pembrokeshire RABI Committee and has been actively involved with the Pembrokeshire Agricultural Society and the Royal Welsh Agricultural Society.

Since making the decision, Leah signed up to the Graduate Certificate in Royal Agricultural University which she will shortly finish.

The farm is based in Monknash, Vale of Glamorgan on an AHA and extends to just under 500 acres, comprising of arable and beef. Leah is hoping to introduce honeybees shortly!

In her spare time Leah loves nothing more than sea swimming, running round after two young boys, coaching the local under 8 football team and trying to find time to paint!

She is a sheep farmer's daughter from Llanafan-Fawr, Builth Wells. Formerly farming a flock of 800 breeding ewes until her Dad passed away suddenly in December 2020. Since then, with her Mum, they have reduced the flock to a manageable number of Texel and Black Welsh Mountains.

Leanne is currently Club Chairman and a devoted member of Troedrhiwdalar YFC and also County Vice Chairman of Brecknock.

With a lifelong interest in agriculture, having always been her Dad’s right-hand girl, Leanne is determined to keep the farm going and is keen to develop her farming and agricultural knowledge.

Leanne’s interest in agriculture began at a young age, she is a true believer of making the most of any given opportunity and drives the message to everyone to give anything a go.

From that summer onwards we have started farming on our own. We have developed from 30 acres, 20 sheep and 4 cows to 140 acres, 80 sheep and 40 suckler cows. Our land is a mixture of fields and hill land and we out-winter all of our stock.

I am looking forward to being a member of such an important group as NFU Cymru's Next Generation Group.

I took the opportunity to travel after university, working on a farm in New Zealand before heading home.

We are looking to develop all aspects of the farm, including grazing systems to get the most out of what we have in a volatile climate, taking advantage of knowledge gained from discussion groups run by Farming Connect.

I have been a keen member of YFC over the years, which has really developed me as a person and had me doing all sorts, as anyone who is a member of YFC will have experienced for themselves. I also enjoy getting off farm and playing sports when I can.

I have been fortunate through the Farming Connect programme to have been a member of the Agri Academy 2019 Business and Innovation, Sheep and Beef demo farmer 2019-2023. Over the last four years we have made one big change to our farming business and have changed from running suckler cows to Angus dairy beef. We are currently running 260 head of Angus Cattle farmed on a rotational grazing system.

I look forward to making new friends and helping to shape the future of Welsh agriculture during my time with NFU Cymru’s Next Generation Group.

We keep 24 Welsh Black cattle, 700 sheep, and 82 red deer. I have no formal agricultural education but after being involved in both the Farmers Weekly Apprentice scheme and the Tesco Future Farmer Foundation, I am keen to learn as much as I can about the industry that I have a passion to work in.

I’m excited to be a member of the group, meeting new people in the business and networking is extremely important to me. I feel that with education and support like this scheme the future of farming will be positive and as a young person in agriculture I want to be a help and part of that. 

Over the years I have worked on a beef farm in Gloucestershire for former beef farmer of the year Paul Westaway. I have also worked for a Dutch family on their dairy farm in Kent and I spent three years working on a broiler, arable and beef farm in Cheshire which has helped to provide me with a broader understanding of our agricultural industry.

In September 2020 I took over our family farm which is based in Snowdonia. It has been in our family since 1953 and is made up of several enterprises including sheep, poultry layers, horse liveries and holiday accommodation. The farm is also in an (SSSI).

I have worked for Dunbia for eight years, starting as an operations graduate, then being given the opportunity to run an Abattoir in the North of Scotland, I found this an extremely valuable experience. I have moved around the country gaining knowledge of abattoir and retail sides of the business as production and operation manager. Currently working in South Wales as an operations analyst. I was part of the 2019 Farming Connect Agri-Academy, which set me up with some lasting friendships.

I look forward to NFU Cymru's Next Generation Group where I intend to broaden my experience and contribute to the programme at this time of challenge, change and opportunity for Welsh and World agriculture.

I have a BSc (Hons) Agricultural Management (Top-up) degree from the Royal Agriculture University, Cirencester. I work on several different farms, most of which are tractor operations roles. I have a keen eye for machinery, especially when they coincide with soil health.  

Since my degree, I have continued my learning and have become more qualified for my role in the farm business. With thanks to Farming Connect I have been able to undertake business, livestock and land courses, I was also a runner up in the Lantra/Farming Connect Young Learner of the Year Award. I still aim to push forward ideas into the business by encouraging more agritourism and educational outlets.   

As part of the next generation group, I am proud to promote the future of Welsh agriculture to advocate this versatile, fantastic industry. However, I will also be raising farm concerns and questions which matter to farmers across Wales.

I joined the dairy farm business during lockdown 2020 following a career break to have children. Prior to this I had worked in sales and account management roles in FMCG.

After joining the partnership, I took on full time calf rearing and all care of young stock. It is possibly one area of dairy farms which I have always believed is not given the focus and dedication it warrants. Consequently, I placed calf care firmly at the heart of our farm business. 

My data driven approach to calf care has enabled us to drive significant improvements not only to calf health but also to the efficiency of our calf rearing practices. Being relatively new to farming I have been lucky enough to be aided by a fantastic team of vets, and industry contacts who have supported me on my steep learning curve. One of my biggest achievements to date was winning the silver award for dairy innovation at the British Farming Awards in October 2021.