Young farmers join FUW for #FarmingMatters chats

FUW Younger Voice committee chairman Darren Williams
& vice-chairman
Anwen Hughes welcomed
Wales Office Minister Guto Bebb to meet with the young voices of the industry.

The FUW opened it’s door widely to welcome young farmers to its pavilion on the second day of the Royal Welsh Show to celebrate their future and involvement with the industry.

Succession and attracting more young people to the industry is a topic the FUW always felt passionate about and FUW Younger Voice for farming Chairman Darren Williams was enthusiastic about the feedback from the under-40s.

He said: “It was absolutely brilliant to have the younger voices of our industry join us for our networking event and listening to them about their hopes, fears, concerns and ambitions for the future. We need the next generation of farmers to be involved and let us know exactly what they want from their future industry. I thank them for joining us tonight and look forward to working with many of them shaping the future of agriculture.”

Darren Williams with new Llyndy Isaf Scholar Teleri Fielden
and her mentor Arwyn Owen.

Teleri Fielden, who recently got awarded the Llyndy Isaf Scholarship joined the networking event saying: “It’s obvious from today that there are so many keen talented young people wanting to get into the industry. It’s going to be a real lost opportunity if we don’t reduce the barriers holding many of them back. Challenges like Brexit, will require the industry to think outside the box and be innovative. That’s why we must make sure that there are dynamic youngsters to continue farming the land in years to come.

“My parents don’t have a farm, so it was really challenging to try and find a way in. It would be good to see more scholarship schemes, like YFC and national Trust offer, which provide a great inroad to farming for those who may not be able to take over a family farm or who just want to run a farm in their own right.”