Two promising postgraduate agricultural students from Powys have been selected to receive a ‘Centenary Award’ bursary from The NFU Mutual Charitable Trust.

Megan Powell from Builth Wells, and Florence Turley, a herdsperson from Newtown, were two of only three students from across the UK to have been chosen for the award in 2021.

The Centenary Award was launched by the UK’s leading rural insurer NFU Mutual to celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2010; to support agricultural leaders of the future, and champion research and innovation within the industry.

Megan was selected for the award to support her MSc in Food Security and Development at the University of Reading which explores balancing future demand and supply sustainably, maintaining biodiversity and ecosystem services while feeding the world.

The Brecknockshire Young Farmers’ Federation member said it was a "real honour" to have NFU Mutual supporting up to 75 per cent of her postgraduate course studies.

"The agricultural sector is consistently evolving, and it is my intention to be at the forefront and a driver of positive change. I want to act as an advocate for the industry in the UK and help lead it to a positive and prosperous future.”

Florence Turley, a herdsperson from Newtown and NFU Mutual Centenary Award 2021 winner, on the farm.

Florence Turley, a herdsperson from Newtown and NFU Mutual Centenary Award 2021 winner, on the farm.

Florence Turley, who is currently working as a herdsperson on a dairy farm near Bishop's Castle, was selected for the award to support her MSc Livestock Health and Production at the Royal Veterinary College. Florence’s course, which begins in February next year, will look into animal health and disease, in particular disease-causing agents and how they may affect livestock.

A member of Shropshire Holstein Young Breeders Club, Florence owns her own small pedigree herd of Holstein cows under the Honeysuckle prefix and has a particular interest in the application of breeding and genomics to enhance herd health and productivity.

“My postgraduate course will provide me with the confidence and ability to appraise animal production efficiency and performance in our farming systems," she said. "I would like to deepen my animal science understanding to be able to act as a knowledge exchange point between scientists and farmers.”

Announcing the award’s recipients for 2021, Jim McLaren, NFU Mutual Chairman, said: “Our aim for the Centenary Award is to support promising individuals who are passionate about making a difference to the future of UK farming. We are delighted to be supporting Megan and Florence's postgraduate courses with our Centenary Award bursary and wish her all the very best for her studies.”

Centenary Award bursaries will again be available in 2022. Applications for the award next year will be invited from the start of January. In the meantime, information about the scheme can be found on the NFU Mutual website, where you can search ‘Centenary Award’.