Combining learning and farming at Llettytwppa

As this edition of Y Tir arrives with you and you’ll get a chance to flick through and come across this article, an exciting open day will have happened in rural Ceredigion.

With agriculture at the core of rural life and culture in Ceredigion, Ceredigion County Council announced last year that they had purchased Llettytwppa Farm near Lampeter University as part of a plan to provide post-16 vocational education on the University campus.

In December last year, an engagement evening was held with key stakeholders from the agricultural sector including the local branch of the FUW, YFC, local businesses and farmers, young people interested in agriculture and the local community, and 160 school pupils attended two open days at Llettytwppa. The latest open day held this month continues to raise awareness and increase access opportunities.

The open days have led to a number of formal inquiries regarding registration on the course. Ceredigion Training will offer two levels of agricultural apprenticeships, to develop practical skills and knowledge for a career in farming. The farm will be run as an integrated educational facility, with the daily work combining agricultural production activities with structured learning opportunities, enabling learners to develop skills relevant to the sector in a real environment.

Prys Lewis, will run the farm, and in his role as manager, he will ensure that Llettytwppa Farm develops as a sustainable, professional farm open to the community - combining high standards of animal welfare, practical training and strong management to create a centre of excellence for agriculture in Ceredigion.

Prospective students can look forward to learning a combination of traditional skills including heritage skills, such as rural crafts, traditional building skills, blacksmithing, carpentry and landscape skills together with modern and innovative courses that will ensure a response to technological change, labour market demands and developments in areas such as digital agriculture, renewable energy and green technologies.

Elen James, Ceredigion County Council's Chief Education Officer states that it is essential to provide a variety of agricultural courses and courses related to agriculture, ensuring that the sector continues to grow, develop and prosper in the county.

Commenting on Llettytwppa Farm, Councillor Bryan Davies, Leader of Ceredigion County Council, said: "As Leader of a rural Council like Ceredigion, and also a farmer myself, when this farm came on the market around the same time as Trinity University's announcement to stop providing degree courses at the Lampeter campus, the Council's senior officers and I saw a golden opportunity to use this as something that would benefit our young people and the agricultural industry.

"Agriculture is our main industry in Ceredigion, and our young people are the most important asset we have. Our communities are dependent on these people, as well as the Welsh language. I envisage that this scheme will develop like a snowball and go from strength to strength."

Agriculture in Wales is facing major changes and challenges at the moment which affect us all. But the enthusiasm and energy of the next generation to learn and expand their agricultural skills provides a boost and provides confidence in the future of our industry. Good luck to the first crop of Llettytwppa Farm students in September!