Glamorganshire beef and sheep farmer Lorraine Howells, who took early retirement from teaching at the local comprehensive school in 1997 to devote more time to farming, has been elected as the FUW’s Glamorgan county President.
She served as the Union’s Glamorganshire county vice chairman from 1989 to 1991, county chairman from 1991 to 1995 and was elected as South Wales member of the central finance and organisation committee in 2000 before being elected vice president in June 2011.
Lorraine Howells also chaired the FUW’s central common land committee for over ten years and is current vice chairman of the central hill farming and marginal land committee.
“On behalf of our members, I would like to congratulate Lorraine on being elected as our new county President. She takes over the role from former county President John Llewellyn who sadly passed away in March 2018.
“Lorraine is known by many, not just through her work with the FUW but also through her role as President of the Welsh Black Cattle Society. Her successful and renowned butchers shop ‘Cig Mynydd Cymru’, which she set up with five fellow breeders in the Rhymney and Merthyr Valley, is testimony to her commitment to the farming industry and we look forward to continue working closely with her,” said Glamorgan CEO Rachel Saunders
Lorraine Howells, who farms Cwm Carno Farm, Rhymney, a hill farm extending to 320 acres mostly of reclaimed opencast land with common grazing, has been farming since 1974. The farm is now run in partnership with Lee Pritchard.
Cwm Carno farm carries a suckler herd of pedigree Welsh Black cattle and South Wales Mountain ewes and has been in the family for over 100 years.
Speaking about her appointment Lorraine Howells said: “I am very honoured to be voted into the role and look forward to supporting the FUW’s efforts in the county.”