Young farmer Melva Phillips was today named as the winner of the prestigious Brynle Williams Memorial Award.
The annual award was established in 2011 to recognise the contribution of the late Brynle Williams to Welsh agriculture, both as an Assembly Member and as a farmer. It celebrates the achievements of young farmers who have received a package of support from the Welsh Government designed to help bring new blood into the industry.
Announcing the winner, alongside Brynle’s wife, Mary Williams, at the Royal Welsh Show, Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Rural Affairs, Lesley Griffiths said:
“Brynle believed, as I do, today’s young farmers are the future of the industry and we must invest in them to ensure both they and this industry have a bright future.
"As a government, we are proud of the package of support we have made available to young and new entrants and I am pleased so many young people are continuing to make use of it.
“It gives me great pleasure to announce here at the Royal Welsh Show Melva Williams as the winner of the Brynle Williams Memorial Award 2016.
“Melva has showed tremendous determination and perseverance in establishing a family-run dairy business in difficult circumstances. She exemplified the spirit of the award perfectly, expressing a passion and enthusiasm for farming which left the judges in no doubt she was a worthy winner.
“I congratulate her and the shortlisted finalists and wish them all the best of luck with their farming careers.”