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CHRISTMAS CARD DESIGN COMPETITION WINNERS[/caption]
Cancer Research Wales - the Farmers’ Union of Wales president’s chosen charity - is a winner thanks to a national children's competition to design a Christmas Card.
"The competition was a roaring success, attracting hundreds of entries from across Wales," said FUW president Emyr Jones.
"The standard of entries was very high and presented the judges with a tough task when it came to choosing the winners. I would like to thank every single child who entered the competition, and to tell them that without their participation the contest would not have been such a success.
"I would also like to thank the schools up and down the country who have assisted the FUW in the running of this competition," said Mr Jones.
"It gave children in both the urban and rural areas of Wales an opportunity to connect with the farming industry and to express their thoughts in a creative and colourful way.
“I believe it is vital that we as farmers maintain a strong link with young people so that they understand the way that food is produced in this country."
The competition, run by the FUW, was split into two categories - English and Welsh designs. The criterion for the entries was that they should depict a farming scene with a Christmas theme.
The Welsh category was won by nine-year-old Rhys Williams, a pupil at Ysgol Llanafan near Aberystwyth. His winning design depicted Santa Claus driving a tractor and a row of sheep at the bottom.
The winner of the English category was nine-year-old Alex Mary Charman, a pupil at Priory Church in Wales School, Brecon, whose winning picture showed Santa flying into the sky on a tractor pulled by a reindeer. Both participants win a £25 Argos voucher plus £100 of Atebol vouchers for their respective schools.
A last minute decision by the judging panel also saw five-year-old Gwilym Workman of Brecon, a pupil at Ysgol Pontsenni, being selected for a prize as they were delighted with his design of a snow man. Gwilym will also receive a £25 Argos voucher.
All the competition entries will form a colourful centrepiece to the FUW's stand at the Royal Welsh Winter Fair in Builth Wells on November 28 and 29, where the public will be able to purchase the cards in packs of 10 for £5 with the proceeds going to Cancer Research Wales.
The cards are also available to purchase from FUW offices around the country or by mail order from the union's head office in Aberystwyth.