News - The Society

Against the odds, two Welsh shearers wiped out the more favoured New Zealanders to win Wales’ first two titles at the famed Golden Shears International Shearing and Woolhandling Championships in New Zealand for 23 years.

In a unanimous vote of support for fellow farmers, the Royal Welsh Agricultural Society’s Board of Directors last week agreed to donate £2,000 to the rural communities affected by the floods in Somerset.

During their most recent monthly board meeting the Directors of the Society decided that the plight of the farming community on the Somerset levels was so unprecedented, that they wanted to do their bit to help.

The Royal Welsh Agricultural Society will build on its traditions but will look to exploit opportunity, cut out waste and increase profitability, the chairman of the board, John Davies, told members of the society’s Council at Builth Wells.

In a speech outlining the future direction of the society under a new management team, Mr Davies said that creating a strong fiscal platform was an essential part of the business plan.

A farmer’s wife from Radnorshire has been elected President of the Royal Welsh Agricultural Society for 2014.  Mrs Rhian Duggan of Crossgates, near Llandrindod Wells, who is only the sixth woman to become President of the society in the 110 years since its formation in 1904, takes over the office during Radnorshire’s year as the feature county.

One of Britain’s top sheep shearers, Gareth Daniel of Machynlleth, has just received the coveted Lister Shearing Personality of the Year award for 2013.

The award, given annually by the British Wool Marketing Board and sponsored by Lister Shearing Equipment Ltd, goes to the person who has promoted and encouraged others interested in shearing and who has gained the respect of the UK shearing industry.  The winner is chosen by popular vote through the BWMB’s shearing publication ‘Newsclip’ which provides readers with nomination forms for the award.

The candidates for the 2014 Royal Welsh Agricultural Society’s Oxford Farming Conference Bursary were so impressive that the judges have broken with tradition by giving the award to two people instead of one.

“Seven candidates came forward for selection and all were worthy of going to Oxford,” said the judges in their report.  “Our final selection was very difficult and our decision was that two of them should receive the bursary this time.

One of the most prestigious prizes in Welsh agriculture, the John Gittins Memorial Award for outstanding contributions to the Welsh sheep industry, has been won by Monmouthshire farmer Maurice Trumper of Llanfair Kilgeddin, Abergavenny.

Mr Trumper, who now farms in partnership with his son, lambs over 1000 ewes each year including 150 Ile de France sheep. Their flock is the largest and oldest of the breed in England and Wales.