Conwy Valley farmers receive cash boost

Aug 2 2008 By Samantha Castle

TWO young farmers from the Conwy Valley have financially benefited from this year’s Gareth Raw Rees Memorial Travel Scholarship.

This year has seen the highest amount ever awarded to scholars wishing to broaden their knowledge of agriculture, following a donation from the NFU Mutual Charitable Trust.

Llyr Humphreys, the main winner from Cerrigydrudion, received £800 to help him travel to New Zealand this autumn. Llyr intends to look at different farming systems used in New Zealand, focussing particularly on beef and sheep production.

"I am really looking forward to taking this opportunity to see first hand how New Zealand has coped following the removal of Government support for agriculture. I intend to leave in October and hope to work out there on farms to learn about their farming practices," he said.

Robin Davies, from Betws-y-Coed, will also travel to New Zealand this autumn where he will spend some time working to learn about agricultural practices in the country.

The scholarship, which is administered by NFU Cymru was set up in memory of the late Gareth Raw Rees who for many years was a delegate on the NFU London Council and chairman of the NFU Cymru education committee. Gareth believed fervently that travel was an important form of education for young people.