TWO Aberystwyth University students from Glamorganshire currently studying agriculture - David Evans from Caerphilly and Rachel Barrett of Pontllanfraith - have each received £100 study grants from the Farmers' Union of Wales Walter Rowlands Memorial Fund.
Mr Rowlands was the FUW's first county executive officer in Glamorganshire. He served the union from 1956 to 1985 when he passed away prematurely.
To recognise his contribution to the union, the Walter Rowlands Memorial Fund grants an annual award of £100 to students, living within the old Glamorgan county boundary, who have been accepted for an agricultural course. The award is a contribution towards the cost of books and equipment.
David Evans lives at Groeswen Farm, Groeswen, near Caerphilly, which was established by his grandfather. In 2006, he completed a BTEC 1st Diploma (Distinction) at Pencoed Agricultural College and then continued his studies at Coleg Gelli Aur, achieving a triple distinction in a National Diploma in Agriculture. He also received the Ben Evans Award for Student of the Year in 2009.
As a self-financing student he spent every weekend and holiday gaining practical experience on a neighbour's hill farm near Caerphilly. He passed his Blue Certificate for shearing and bought his own equipment to work alongside other experienced farmers.
His spare time is spent training his two sheep dogs, improving his riding skills or designing equipment that would reduce the time and workload of routine tasks around the farm. He is currently studying for a BSc (Hons) Degree in Agriculture at Aberystwyth.
Rachel Barrett, of Heath Road, Pontllanfraith, Blackwood, does not have a farming background but she loves working with animals and has great interest in environmental issues.
She initially believed that she wanted to be a veterinary surgeon but since starting her course in Aberystwyth it has opened her mind to the many opportunities she can follow including working with Defra or in habitat ecology. She would like to have her own smallholding one day and be as self sufficient as possible.
She is currently studying a Foundation (FdSc) Agriculture course at Aberystwyth University and her hobbies include being a member of the St John Ambulance Brigade with whom she has many qualifications within different areas.
She enjoys learning sign language and has helped raise funds for the St David's Foundation. She is also a member of the University Mountaineering and ballroom dancing clubs.
FUW Glamorganshire county executive officer Adrian Evans said: "The judging panel was unanimous in agreeing that they were both very deserving of the award and decided to make two awards for the first in the fund's long history."
Applications for the 2011 Walter Rowlands Memorial Award should be sent to FUW's Glamorganshire County Office, 58 Eastgate, Cowbridge, Vale of Glamorgan, CF71 7AB, by 30 November 2010. For further details call 01446 774838.