Leadership
The Presidential Policy Team are democratically elected by our farmer members from across all 12 County Branches. In their roles as Official FUW Representatives, the Presidential Policy Team speak exclusively on behalf of the Farmers of Wales at local, national and international levels. They also frequently represent the Union at ministerial meetings, stakeholder workshops and local branch meetings.
Ian Rickman, FUW President
Ian is a Carmarthenshire sheep and beef farmer, who is a past county chairman of the FUW in Carmarthenshire, and has held the position of Chairman of the Hill Farming and Marginal Land Committee.
He was elected as Vice President of the FUW in 2017 and became Deputy President in 2019. In all his roles, Ian has worked tirelessly to represent the Union and its members at a variety of Welsh Government meetings, at farm visits with MPs and MSs highlighting why #FarmingMatters and has represented the Union in a host of media interviews.
Ian is married to Helen and they have three sons. The family lives on a 220 acre upland farm near Llandeilo, Carmarthenshire. He is in a share farming agreement with his business partner, keeping sheep and rearing Wagyu calves.
Dai Miles, FUW Deputy President
Dai is a Pembrokeshire dairy farmer. He is one of the 4 founding directors of Calon Wen, an organic milk co-operative that not only sells on its members' milk to processors but has created its own brand of dairy products which are available through all major retailers in Wales and UK wide via distributors.
In 1997, in partnership with his wife Sharron, the couple took on the tenancy of Barnsley Farm, a 143 acres farm in West Wales. At the time it was a stock/arable unit which they converted into an organic dairy unit starting with 33 cows and leased milk quota. In 2001 they took on a further 90 acres of pasture land and then in 2005 the neighbouring farm within the same estate. At the moment the couple have 120 cows and 65 youngstock. Cropping is mainly grass, however arable silage, forage rape and fodder beet are part of the rotation farming approx. 300 plus acres.
Brian Bowen, Regional Vice President
Brian farms a mixed suckler cow and hill sheep unit near Tredegar. The farm consists of 150 acres of owned land with a further 1000 rented acres and 1200 acres of common rights on three separate commons. He runs the farm, along with his father, mother and son.
He served as FUW Brecon and Radnor Vice Chairman from 2008 and was elected as its County Chairman in 2010. He has been the Brecon and Radnor delegate on the FUW livestock, wool and marts committee since 2009 and currently serves as its Vice Chairman.
Anwen Hughes, Regional Vice President
Anwen Hughes farms 80 acres at Bryngido farm, just outside of Aberaeron in Ceredigion, in partnership with her husband Rhodri. The family keeps around 200 Lleyn and Lleyn cross ewes on a low input-high output, grass based system.
Anwen has been farming since 1995 and in addition also owns in partnership with her mother Betty Davies a further 48 acres which is rented to her oldest son Glyn.
Alun Owen, Regional Vice President
Alun Owen farms at Gallt-y-Celyn, Pentrefoelas with his wife Marian and son Siôn. Gallt-Y-Celyn is an upland farm producing store cattle and fat lambs on the Foelas estate in the Uwchaled area, and lies between 600 and 800 feet above the sea. In addition, another holding is part of a business located in Pen Llŷn. Alun and his wife Marian took over the business from his parents some time ago and have been members with FUW for many years.
Alun believes that it is important that Wales has a strong voice within the agricultural industry and has been the FUW County Chairman for Denbighshire. He believes that it is important and his duty to try and meet with everyone from outside the industry in order to facilitate their understanding of the agriculture sector.