A teenager who was brought up on a sheep farm near Llangadfan was recognised as a rising star in the farming industry at the Royal Welsh Winter Show.
Fflur Roberts, 17, was announced as a runner up in the Young Learner Land Management and Production category at this year’s Lantra awards. The agriculture student received her award from Cabinet Secretary for Energy, Planning and Rural Affair Lesley Griffiths AM on November 26.
The awards, sponsored by Farming Connect, recognised and celebrated the success of learners in Wales’ land-based and environmental industries.
Eryl Roberts, farming connect development officer for Meirionnydd, said: “Fflur has taken every advantage to further her knowledge of the industry and is very aware of the need to undertake formal training to build CPD”.
Judge Geraint Jones with Elis Roberts and Fflur Roberts
The former Caereinion High School pupil was nominated by the Head of NPTC Group of Colleges’ School of Agriculture, Horticulture and Culinary Arts Sue Lloyd Jones where she is currently in her final year studying for her Level 3 Extended Diploma.
To top it off, Fflur won first prize and Supreme Champion in the Young Farmers Club’s Prime Hill Lamb Producer category, and second prize in the Carcass (Hill) category at the Royal Welsh Winter Fair in Llanelwedd.
Speaking about her awards, Fflur said: “It was a couple of days that I will never forget. For my age it’s quite an achievement.” I didn’t expect an interview at Llysfasi let alone award. For a young individual in the industry, that’s quite young for the category.
Fflur, who was the only female finalist, was asked to attend an interview at Denbighshire agricultural college Llysfasi as part of the process. The winner was Rhys William Edwards from Glamorgan, and highly commended recipients were Aled Wyn Davies from Carmarthenshire and Ieuan Harries from Pembrokeshire.
“I’m really chuffed to get that at so young, and to receive the award from a government minister, that was great,” she added.
Fflur wants to study agriculture and food industries at university but shehas her sights firmlyset on gaining a scholarship to New Zealand.
“I’ll take any chance that comes at me. I want to gain experience, get the right mind set and get on track.”
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