Due to Covid-19 restrictions, which necessitated the prestigious Lantra Cymru Awards 2021 having to be judged remotely, the Minister for Rural Affairs, North Wales & Trefnydd, Lesley Griffiths pre-recorded a short message which was transmitted during the actual ceremony, held at 6.30pm on Thursday, 24 February, 2022 at the Metropole Hotel, Llandrindod Wells. The awards are now in their 27th year.
The Minister thanked and congratulated all the 2021 winners and nominees, whose names were announced on the night. She also thanked the land-based training providers and rural colleges in Wales, all approved to deliver Farming Connect subsidised training courses, who had nominated the entries.
Farming Connect is delivered by Menter a Busnes and Lantra Wales and funded by the Welsh Government and the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development.
Following the event, the Minister also paid special tribute to the winner of the 2021 Lantra Cymru Lifetime Achievement award, which recognises an individual who has made an ‘outstanding and significant’ contribution to Welsh agriculture. The accolade was awarded to well-known television personality, Dai Jones MBE of Llanilar, Ceredigion.
“Dai Jones is a familiar face to all working and living in the farming and rural community in Wales. His enthusiastic banter and baritone voice have graced our TV screens as an S4C presenter for many years.
“He is particularly well known for presenting the popular Cefn Gwlad programme and for his coverage of the Royal Welsh Show.
“Dai is a past President of the Welsh Black Cattle Society and the International Sheep Dog Society, Vice President of Wales YFC and was extremely proud to be appointed as President of the Royal Welsh Show Society in 2010 when Ceredigion was the host county.
“He has been a true champion for Welsh agriculture and rural life and is a very worthy winner of this important award”
The Minister also congratulated winner of the Brynle Williams Memorial Award. This award, now in its 11th year and donated by the late Mr Williams’ widow Mrs Mary Williams, recognises the achievements of a young farmer who has found their way into a farming business through Farming Connect’s Venture programme. It was awarded to first-generation farmer Bryn Perry who lives in Pembrokeshire.
“Bryn’s academic and professional background was in the business sector, but since moving to Wales just two years ago, he has established himself as a highly professional young farmer and businessperson, he is already making a name for himself and his ‘sheep dairy’ business, and I’m delighted to announce that he is the winner of the prestigious 2021 Brynle Williams Memorial Award,” said the Minister.
“Each one of this year’s very worthy Lantra Cymru Awards winners and runners-up is, through their commitment to lifelong learning, making a valuable contribution to the modernisation and professionalism of the agriculture industry in Wales.
“Your collective efforts are helping our industry safeguard the future of family farms and rural communities for future generations. I want to congratulate all this year’s nominees and in particular, our very worthy winners”.
“I wish you all well as you make your mark on agriculture in Wales and beyond – the future of our industry is in very safe hands,” said the Minister.
Leading Welsh agriculturalist Mr Peter Rees, chair of Lantra Wales, presided over this year’s selection panel, which included agricultural Health & Safety expert Brian Rees, who is also a former chair of the Wales Farm Safety Partnership; Dr Nerys Llewellyn Jones, founder and Managing Partner of Agri Advisor solicitors and Kevin Thomas, Director of Lantra Wales.