Cooking demonstration by top local chefs and ready steady cook competitions YFC style will keep visitors to the Farmers’ Union of Wales stand at Anglesey county show (August 11-12) entertained this year.

Ellis Barrie of Marram Grass and Gert Vos of Oren are kick-starting the cooking demonstrations at 10.15am on the Tuesday of the show (August 11) and will be showing off their skills continuously throughout the two-day event.

The first Ready, Steady, Cook! competition, in YFC style, will commence at 11.15am with the boys and the girls will start the second round on Wednesday at 11.45pm at the FUW stand.

“We are very excited to promote our fantastic Welsh food here at the Anglesey show and welcome visitors to join us for the two-day show, have a chat, drink a cup of tea and have a piece of cake with us,” said FUW Anglesey county executive officer Heidi Williams.

Dog obedience training and advice as well as a demonstration by Heather Gordon and Margaret will put the spot light on responsible dog ownership on Wednesday of the show (August 12).

“The second day of the show will focus strongly on dog training and obedience. The FUW is continuing with its support for the ‘take the lead’ campaign as well and we are encouraging visitors to the show not to miss out on the workshops,” added Mrs Williams.

Children will not be forgotten at the show either and are invited to come by the stand on both days for a special food tasting session.

There will also be a raffle and Davis Meade and Gamlins solicitors will be at the stand for both days.

[caption id="attachment_5580" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Kay Williams[/caption]

A new area officer has joined the FUW Insurance Services team for North Montgomeryshire to replace David Lush, who has recently been promoted to business development manager.

Kay Williams, who grew up on a hill farm in the Guilsfield / Welshpool area, now lives in Four Crosses with her partner and 2 children. She has around 14 years’ experience in the insurance industry, having worked locally for a commercial insurance broker.

“This is a great opportunity for me and I am looking forward to getting to know my new customers and hope to become a trusted area officer in North Montgomeryshire for FUW Insurance Services”, said Miss Williams.

Kay will work at the FUW county office in Newtown and will be present at Welshpool livestock market on Mondays to deal with and address any insurance needs.

FUW Insurance Services managing director Mark Roberts said: “These are very exciting times for FUW Insurance Services and we are looking forward to working with energetic, experienced and skilled people like Kay to drive the business forward.”

“Existing and new customers wishing to contact me about any Insurance issues they may have can reach me in the Newtown office on 01686 623093; my mobile 07583 411362 or e-mail me at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.,” added Miss Williams.

[caption id="attachment_5554" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Cowbridge livestock market.[/caption]

The Glamorgan branch of the Farmers’ Union of Wales is throwing its full support behind plans to refurbish the building of the Cowbridge livestock market, which includes the retention of the existing livestock market, at the Vale of Glamorgan show (August 12).

The Vale Market Community Enterprise Group (VMCE) will be displaying plans and designs of the new Cowbridge livestock market at the FUW stand and the union is encouraging as many people as possible to view the current plans.

“The previous Vale of Glamorgan Council intended to sell the site to private developers in the past but thanks to the combined effort of the VMCE and local farmers, we have been able to secure its future.

“It is, however, essential for us to make sure that there is enough public support for the livestock market refurbishment via public funding and that’s why we urge the public to come and talk to us about the market here at the show,” said FUW Glamorgan county executive officer Rachel Saunders.

Crime Reduction Tactical Advisor for the police in Bridgend and the Vale, Deborah Elward, will also be at the FUW stand to demonstrate devices that can prevent crime on farms.

“Given the announced reduction in social and welfare payments in the last budget and considering the current economic climate, we could see an increase in farm thefts. I would encourage our members to talk to Deborah at the show to get the latest update on what measures they can take to protect their farms and property,” added Mrs Saunders.

The FUW is extending a warm welcome to all its members to join the county staff at the show to discuss policy matters and support the counties 200 club raffle.

The Farmers’ Union of Wales has joined forces with Cynefin and is showcasing maps, which include the Eisteddfod grounds, along with documents depicting information about the fields such as their historic names, during this year’s National Eisteddfod (August 1-8) and other agricultural and county shows.

Cynefin is an innovative HLF (Heritage Lottery Fund) funded project that aims to digitise all of the tithe maps of Wales.

The project is eager to get the people of Wales involved in transcribing the tithe maps and their associated schedules which name land owners and occupiers, land uses and field names.

“Interestingly, the way field names were recorded in the 1840s for tithe purposes can be compared to the way in which field names are recorded today as part of the SAF/RPW online process,” said Cynefin project manager Einion Gruffudd.

 “We look forward to working with the Cynefin project throughout the rest of the show season by displaying a variety of tithe maps throughout our Welsh agricultural shows and are encouraging visitors to our stand to help transcribe them,” said FUW director of policy Dr Nick Fenwick. 

 “A new exhibition - Y Lle Hanes – will also feature at the Eisteddfod this year and is dedicated to local history.

 “At this local history exhibition, visitors will be able to view several tithe maps from Montgomeryshire, including a large tithe map composition of the Meifod area, which has been merged from smaller parish and township maps with the help of local volunteers. 

“Eisteddfod-goers will also be able to see how tithe maps can help us learn about the lost villages and houses of Wales,” added Mr Gruffudd.

At the National Library of Wales stand in the Eisteddfod, parts of Llanycil and Llanfor tithe maps will be displayed to show the land that was drowned in 1965 to create Llyn Celyn reservoir.

A colourful display on the history of the Bardic Chair, will form the centre piece at this year’s Farmers’ Union of Wales stand (Stand 613 – 614) at the National Eisteddfod, held at Meifod, Montgomeryshire (August 1-8).

“As a union we are proud of our long history with the Eisteddfod and are looking forward to once again be supporting this iconic Welsh festival of culture and life,” said FUW Montgomeryshire county chairman Mark Williams.

“Visitors to the stand will have the opportunity to view a colourful and informative display on not just the history of the Bardic Chair but also the past and of course present Bardic Chair contributions that the FUW has made over the years.”

The Eisteddfod Bardic Chair, which is presented to the winning bard for an ode or a sequence of poems in strict metre (cynghanedd), of up to 250 lines on the theme ‘Web’ on Friday August 7, has been sponsored by the FUW Montgomeryshire branch this year and Chair maker Carwyn Owen will be at the FUW stand on Wednesday (August 5) to talk about his creation as the youngest ever cabinet maker to create the chair.

“We are also looking forward to welcome members and friends of the FUW to join us on the stand on Saturday (August 1) for a BBQ to meet our new county executive officer at 5pm.

“On Monday (August 3) we will be giving away free milk samples and are launching our ‘Where is Tegwen’ competition for the week.

“Children can pick a square on a coloured numbered board to guess where she got lost on her travels across Wales.

“Each square cost £1 and the money raised will go to the president’s charitable cause and a £100 cash prize is up for grabs for the winning ticket,” added Mr Williams.

The union is also cutting its 60th anniversary birthday cake and is inviting members and friends to join us for the occasion at 2.30pm on Wednesday.

“Representative from RABI will be on the stand daily and we look forward to welcoming representatives of FUW Insurance Ltd. during the week,” added Mr Williams.

There will be a warm welcome, as well as light refreshments, for all to enjoy and members of FUW Montgomeryshire staff are on hand to discuss general farming issues.

[caption id="attachment_5540" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Presenting the Bob Davies memorial award to former FUW director of PR - Peter Roberts - is FUW president Glyn Roberts.[/caption]

Farmers’ Union of Wales public relations director Peter Roberts, who retired from his post at the beginning of the year, received the FUW’s Bob Davies Memorial Award at yesterdays (Wednesday July 22) annual FUW Wednesday evening reception at the Royal Welsh Show. 

The award - in memory of Farmers Weekly Wales correspondent Bob Davies, of Welshpool, who died in November 2009 - is offered to a media personality who has raised the public profile of Welsh farming. 

Sixty-six-year-old Mr Roberts said: “Bearing in mind the calibre of those fellow media personalities that have already received this award, I am proud to follow in their footsteps. 

“But I also feel like a gamekeeper turned poacher as, since the award’s inception, I used to be part of the FUW group that decided who should receive it every year. 

“So I felt it was a bit nepotistic for me to be nominated this time but then I realised that I had covered the highs and lows of the farming industry for nearly 40 years before joining the FUW. 

“And now it thrills me to recall that when I was 15 I used to deliver the South Wales Evening Post around my home village of Ferryside and over half a century later I still edit the FUW’s monthly newspaper Y Tir/Welsh Farmer, which is printed and produced by the Post’s current publishers.” 

FUW president Glyn Roberts said: “On behalf of the FUW I would warmly like to thank Peter for his outstanding service to the FUW and Welsh agriculture, not only during his time with the union but also during his many years as a respected journalist. 

“We’ve flown the FUW flag in Germany, Greece and Brussels and Peter’s commitment and passion for Welsh agricultural news and his experience and knowledge have benefited the union greatly.” 

After leaving Carmarthen’s Queen Elizabeth Grammar School, Mr Roberts joined the Carmarthen Journal as a trainee reporter and just over two years later he was appointed the Post’s Carmarthen district junior reporter. 

In September 1970 he became the Western Mail’s senior district reporter for Ceredigion, Montgomeryshire, Meirionnydd and Dwyfor and 14 years later the Cambrian News’ deputy editor. 

He was appointed Cambrian News editor in July 1991 and after seven years in that post left to set up his own editorial consultancy pr.news which he successfully ran until April 2002 when he became FUW’s press officer and Y Tir’s editor. 

He succeeded Alan Morris, now Hybu Cig Cymru - Meat Promotion Wales communications manager, as FUW’s PR director in December 2006.