“We will survive, like every other time”
by Angharad Evans, Welsh Language Communications Officer
2025 is a year full of milestones! The Union is celebrating its 70th, and one farmer from Meirionnydd is celebrating 20 years as the presenter of Ffermio, S4C's weekly farming and countryside series. What better way to mark this milestone, than to present Alun Elidyr with the Farmers’ Union of Wales Bob Davies Memorial Award at this year's Royal Welsh Show.
A few days after the busy show week, I had the chance to catch up with Alun and to reflect on his 20 years with Ffermio: "Back in 1996, I was a professional actor with 17 years of experience, and living happily in Penrhyncoch with Catrin, and our daughter Elan, who was a year old," said Alun. By February 1997, I was a farmer, following the sudden death of my father, Thomas Edwards, Caecoch. I didn't think at the time, that a plea from Dai Jones, Llanilar at the end of the mart at Dolgellau, asking if he could film the Cefn Gwlad programme at Cae Coch, would lead to a twenty year long career as one of the presenters of Ffermio.
"I was the thorn among roses, with Iola Wyn, Mererid Wigley and Daloni Metcalfe as co-presenters! With all three younger than me but with much more experience, I had to learn quickly and develop a personal style. I was the nice guy who got to chat and have a nosey around farmyards, while one of the female presenters questioned politicians about changing agricultural policy.
"However, sometimes, the boundaries would become a bit blurry, like the time I went with a group of Meirionnydd Farmers' Union of Wales members to the first ever protest on the steps of the new Senedd in Cardiff Bay, to oppose the abolition of Tir Mynydd. In a discussion in Carwyn Jones’s office, who had responsibility for agriculture at the time, the fact that I was a hill farmer and a television presenter confused him, and afterwards I heard that questions had been asked to S4C as a result. But fair play to several commissioners of our national channel since then, they have been very supportive of the programme throughout my time on it.
"And I have experienced many adventures! All due to the vibrancy of Welsh farmers far and wide. In 2010, for example, traveling to Brittany, and then the Orkney Islands, following families from Wales who had migrated there in search of a better life. Then, being lucky enough to be able to go to the Tonte de Mouton 2019, which is the Golden Shears Championship, near Limoges in France, when Richard Jones from Llangollen was crowned Champion World Shearer! An absolutely fantastic experience, as was returning to France in 2023 to see Daf Mynach and the family, and their Limousin herd, and being amazed at how brave they were to pack up, and start all over again in a new country, with a new language and system...but in the home of the breed of course!
"And at home in Wales, the rural welcome is so warm, I can't thank our contributors enough. They should be rewarded, for their tenacity when facing challenges, their ingenuity when solving problems, their excellent husbandry and the willingness to tell their story, and for explaining farming to the viewers. I can't stress enough how important that is.
"At home in Caecoch, Mari Jones’s path crosses within twenty yards of the house, and my 6 sheep dogs welcome every walker - and there are many of them. It gives me the opportunity to have a conversation with the visitors. I always talk about the sheep and the cattle and the nature of our land, but also in the hope that they are my customers, I show the results of their taxes - hedges, dry stone walls and lakes etc. And they are always pleased.
"And that is the wealth of the Bob Davies Award, and I am extremely grateful to the Union for choosing me, which is to support that crucial process of bridging the gap between farmers and the public, and trying to ensure that we respect each other. There is a big change happening throughout agriculture, and it is vital that we communicate our views effectively and reasonably. We will survive, as every other time, encouraging the next generation to earn a living on the land."
Thank you Alun for your invaluable contribution to our agricultural world - as a farmer, a member, a smart spokesperson, presenter and a deserving winner of this award - on to the next 20 years with Ffermio!
