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FUW bursary finalists, from left, Ilan Hughes, Carys Mair Jones and Eurof Edwards.[/caption]
The winner of the Farmers' Union of Wales student bursary scheme, 18-year-old Denbighshire agricultural student Ilan Hughes, is not from a farming background at home but he still intends using his £700 award to work in the industry.
He plans to travel to New Zealand to study their farming methods. "Winning the bursary will be a huge boost for my career," he said.
"I have set my sights on spending part of my work experience during the second year of my agriculture course at Aberystwyth University in New Zealand," said Ilan, who lives at Llangwm, near Corwen.
"I would like to spend some time there learning the different types of farming. They have a method of farming that doesn't use supplementary feeding and know how to get the best out of the land and the grass.
"I hope that we would be able to modify some of their ideas to use here in Wales in the future. I would also like to gain experience of working on a large dairy farm and learning about the advantages of keeping a herd consisting of hundreds, possibly thousands of cattle," said Ilan.
Outlining what winning the bursary means to him and how it could benefit his future career, he added: "I have vast experience of working with sheep and breeding cattle, but I would appreciate the chance and the experience of learning about a dairy herd.
"Whilst in New Zealand, I would like the opportunity to improve my shearing skills. I've had basic training and have had experience of shearing during the last two years, but I would like to improve my skill and technique.
"I'm sure this will enhance my understanding and experience and would benefit my career in agriculture. Spending time in New Zealand would also help nurture my socialising and personal skills through working with people of different backgrounds and cultures."
Ilan has long held a keen interest in farming and spent every spare minute on his uncle's nearby farm in Ystrad Fawr. "My interest in agriculture led me to Llysfasi College to study agriculture after I completed my GCSE exams.
"I spent two years there and enjoyed every second of the course. I was also very fortunate to spend six months on an organic farm in Rhug, near Corwen, where I gained valuable experience and at the end of the course I gained good grades that enabled me to go to Aberystwyth University to study agriculture.
Ilan won the Welsh Student of the Year award at Llysfasi College. He is an enthusiastic member of Uwchaled YFC and takes part in numerous activities and competitions such as stock judging, public speaking, eisteddfod, sport, drama and rallies.
Bursary runner-up, 18-year-old Carys Mair Jones, of Glanbynant, Gwynfe Road, Llandeilo, received £200 and third-placed, 16-year-old Eurof Edwards, Erw Deg, Llangernyw, Abergele, Conwy, was awarded £100.
Announcing the winning line-up at the Royal Welsh Winter Fair, FUW education and agricultural committee chairman Alun Edwards said the judges' panel had a great deal of difficulty placing the final three candidates.
"The quality of entrants this year was fantastic and each of the three finalists had outstanding individual qualities.
"Eurof is young but technically way above his age and experience and knew exactly that what he wanted to do with his family's dairy herd was very innovative.
"Carys wanted to use the knowledge she would receive from college to help others cope with the challenges of modern farming such as animal health and EID.
"But we felt that Ilan was somebody special because he was not from a farming background and yet his experiences on his uncle's farm had convinced him that this was what he wanted to do and he looked anew at the challenges facing young people wanting to get into farming.
"He presented us with clear, mature, considered answers and we felt he was punching above his age. All three were so mature for their age and they understood how the political system can have such an effect on our industry."