THE family of an admired farmer killed in a tragic tractor incident last year collected a special award on his behalf at the Royal Welsh Winter Fair this week.

The Tudor family, from Llanerfyl, received the CARAS (Council for Awards of Royal Agricultural Societies) Fellowship at the opening ceremony of the Winter Fair on Monday, November 29; the popular agricultural event returning after a two-year hiatus due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The family received the award on behalf of the late Richard Tudor. CARAS Fellowship rewards individuals’ outstanding contribution to the agricultural sector through the awards of associateship and fellowship.

Richard, 45, was a highly respected and well-known figure in the agricultural industry in Mid Wales and beyond, whose death in April 2020 shocked and saddened the local community, as well as further afield. Richard's achievements were reflected on at the opening ceremony of the Winter Fair, in Llanelwedd, just outside Builth Wells, where his family – wife Catrin and children Morgan and Lois – were presented with the award.

Son Morgan continues to run the family’s Llysun farm and was one of three national finalists for BBC Countryfile Young Countryside Champion award.

A Royal Welsh Agricultural Society spokesperson said: “We are delighted that Morgan was one of just three national finalists for the Countryfile Young Countryside Champion award, which is an award presented annually by BBC Countryfile, and celebrates young people who are making a positive impact in the countryside.

“Morgan is a truly inspirational young person with great drive, passion and determination, and fully supported by his family, ensuring that Richard’s legacy lives on.”

In June 2015 Richard became an associate of CARAS for his submission ‘Improving Suckler Efficiency at Llysun’. He had farmed Llysun with the family, including parents Tom and Ann. In 2016, he was named Farmers Weekly’s ‘Beef Farmer of the Year’ and lauded for his efficient management. To broaden his farming knowledge, he travelled the world, both as a Hybu Cig Cymru and Nuffield scholar, and shared his research widely with the farming community as well as putting it into practice on the farm.

At the time of his death Richard was in the process of converting the 290-hectare farm from beef to dairy and that conversion was on the brink of completion. With a new rotary parlour installed, milking started in early spring 2020.

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Morgan and the family now continue with Richard’s dream for dairy farming at Llysun and are planning for a future built on Richard’s vision, leadership and outstanding legacy.

Richard died on the evening of April 3, 2020, while working at the farm. His inquest in June 2020 heard the father-of-two died after his tractor lost balance and rolled on top of him. Richard was found by his son at around 7.15pm after he had failed to answer his phone. Paramedics, police, firefighters and an air ambulance were called out but he died at the scene.

His family paid tribute to him, with wife Catrin describing him as a loving husband of 20 years and an “incredibly hard-working” farmer who took “immense pride” in his work.

There was also an outpouring of tributes across Powys too, from farming bodies to football clubs, schools and politicians.

Farming union NFU Cymru said: “Richard was a great man who gave so much to Welsh and British agriculture and his loss will be deeply felt by all those who knew him.”

Betsan Llwyd, headteacher of Ysgol Dyffryn Banw, said: “It is heartbreaking to think of all that Richard contributed to the life of Ysgol Dyffryn Banw and the whole community.”

Richard was a well-known figure in the community and was chair of the board of governors at Ysgol Dyffryn Banw, as well as a former Dyffryn Banw FC manager, and wrote a monthly farming column in Welsh language paper Plu'r Gweunydd.

Politicians including the presiding officer Elin Jones described Mr Tudor's death as a “cruel loss”, while Brecon and Radnorshire MP Fay Jones said he was “the future of Welsh farming and had so much to give”. Former Montgomeryshire MP Glyn Davies said the loss would have a “wide impact” in the county.