Young farming couple receive 2013 NSA Cymru/Wales Achievement Award

2nd December 2013

Sion and Claire Williams, a young couple from Llandeilo, Carmarthenshire, were presented with the NSA Cymru/Wales Young Achievement Award at the Welsh Winter Fair today.

NSA Cymru/Wales presents the award annually to recognise the specific contribution of people under the age of 35 to the sheep farming sector. Sion and Claire (pictured with son Harri) were selected not just for their incredible role in hosting NSA Welsh Sheep in May this year, which attracted several thousand visitors to their farm in South Wales, but also their achievement in taking on a farming tenancy in 2010 and utilising IT, industry schemes and grant aid to make their sheep enterprise thrive.

David Pittendreigh, NSA Cymru/Wales Chairman, says: “Sion and Claire Williams, and not forgetting son Harri, took on a 10-year tenancy at the 255-acre Beili Ficer Farm in 2010 and have achieved a huge amount already. They rent another 150 acres and own a further 20 acres and have developed a thriving sheep enterprise with the goal of producing exactly what the market wants.

“They run a mixed flock of 1,200 Mule, Texel Mule and Aberdale ewes and their 100% focus on maximising lamb production off grass and kilograms of lamb sold per ewe is a lesson to everyone in the sheep sector, whatever their age.

“We all know the challenges for young people to get on the farming ladder and the way Sion and Claire work closely with their landlords – Alfor and Elwyn Thomas – in a relationship that benefits them both is an inspiration to young farmers who dream of farming in their own right. It is an absolute honour for NSA Cymru/Wales to recognise Sion and Claire with this award.”

The presentation was made to Sion and Claire on the NSA at the Welsh Winter Fair, where NSA also launched a membership recruitment campaign for 2014, with a free prize draw for new members that sign up and existing members who recommend them.

  

Notes to editors:-

  • Helen Davies, NSA Cymru/Wales Regional Development Officer, will be at the Welsh Winter Fair on both days of the event – visit the NSA stand next to the sheep ring or call Helen on 07976 803066. If you struggle to contact Helen, contact NSA Senior Communications Office Joanne Briggs on 07807 237982 or joanne@nationalsheep.org.uk.
  • You can read more about Sion and Claire’s farming enterprise on the NSA Welsh Sheep website - http://www.welshsheep.org.uk/beili-ficer-farm/.
  • The National Sheep Association is an organisation that represents the views and interests of sheep producers throughout the UK. It is funded by its membership of sheep farmers and its activities involve it in every aspect of the sheep industry. More at www.nationalsheep.org.uk andwww.nsanextgeneration.org.uk