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(l-r) Welsh Dairy Show committee chairman Lynn Davies, HSBC agriculture relationship manager Sarah Raymond, Revd Canon Eileen Davies, FUW deputy president Brian Thomas and Welsh Dairy Show president Brian Jones.[/caption]
The Reverend Canon Eileen Davies, BTh, ARAgS has been recognised for her services to agriculture with the Farmers’ Union of Wales/United Counties Agricultural & Hunters Society award.
The award is presented to the person judged to have made the most outstanding contribution to agriculture in Carmarthenshire during the past few years.
Eileen was born at Aberdauddwr, Llanllwni, a family farm and after getting married to Dyfrig Davies in 1990 became a partner in the family farm at Gwndwn, Llanllwni where she continues to farm with her husband and son, Owain.
It is a 300 acre mixed farm where they milk 75 pedigree Holstein cows under the prefix ‘Llanllwni’ and they also keep 200 commercial breeding ewes.
In 2013, Canon Eileen Davies was honoured by the Royal Welsh Society by being presented with the Associate of the Royal Agricultural Society for her work supporting people working in agriculture who are in need.
FUW deputy president Brian Thomas, who presented Canon Davies with the award, said: “The judges were delighted by the high calibre of candidates presented to them this year but the Rev Canon Eileen Davies stood out for her work in assisting farmers and rural communities in their hour of need.
“We can only be grateful for people like Eileen Davies and it is therefore an honour to present her with this award.”
She is a past, faithful and successful member of Carmarthenshire Federation of Young Farmers Clubs and attended Llanllwni YFC where she was club chairman between 1984 and 1985.
Also she served as club secretary and club treasurer and later became a dedicated club leader and more recently was president of the club.
During her time as a member of the YFC, Eileen gained great success at county, Wales and national level of England and Wales arranging flowers, poultry trussing and jointing, stock judging, public speaking, drama and half an hour’s entertainment competitions.
In 1985, she became a county attendant and in 1989 served as an exceptional county queen.
The following year due to her commitment, Eileen was nominated as county chairman and gained great respect during her year in office.
In 2001, although already busy, Eileen decided to become a part time priest and after studying for three years was ordained at St. David’s Cathedral in 2005.
Between 2004 and 2008 she served as a Curate at Lampeter and Llanddewi Brefi. In 2005 she was elected as the rural co-ordinator for the St. David’s diocese, a post she holds until the present day. In 2008, she gained the Bachelor of Theology degree and from then until the present has been a full time vicar at Llanerchaeron, Ciliauaeron, Dihewyd and Mydroilyn churches.
In 2012, Eileen became an honorary Canon at the diocese of St. David’s and 2014 became an official full time Canon at the diocese.
In 2015 in the name of the St. David’s diocese, Eileen Davies established “Tir Dewi”, an initiative which aims to provide a listening ear for local farmers facing modern day challenges and aims to provide them with support and guidance to help them through the difficult times.
Carmarthenshire YFC county organiser, Eirios Thomas, who nominated Canon Davies on behalf of the county, said: “Eileen has worked tirelessly for the agricultural and rural communities of Carmarthenshire, Pembrokeshire and Ceredigion for many years and has been a listening ear to many when they have been at their lowest.
“People feel they can turn to Eileen and discuss matters in total confidence due to her understanding of the agricultural and rural communities. The respect people have towards this lady is incredible.
“She is professional and yet approachable in her work and I have followed and supported her career throughout the years. She is truly worthy of being recognised for all her hard work in our agricultural and rural communities.”