First year Harper Adams University student Isobel Thomas, who is studying Rural Land Management and Rural Enterprises, has been presented with the Farmers’ Union of Wales Walter Rowlands Memorial Award.
The award is presented in memory of Walter Rowlands to recognise his hard work during his 29 years' employment with the FUW as a county secretary.
Isobel Thomas, who lives at Croes Cwtta Farm, Castle Upon Alun, St Brides Major, Vale of Glamorgan, has been a keen and active member of Wick & District YFC from a young age and enjoys taking part in the stock judging competitions.
She is the 5th generation on the family farm and her great-great grandparents moved to Croes Cwtta Farm over 100 years ago. It was previously a dairy farm and changed to a beef and sheep farm with a small amount of arable.
She said: “I have lots of very happy childhood memories living and growing up on the family farm, with my grandparents and family providing me with the grounding and passion for all aspects of farming and country life.
“Coming from the farming fraternity has helped my passion for the countryside and environment and has guided me down the pathway for a future career to study rural land management and rural enterprises at Harper Adams. This will hopefully allow me to contribute back into the agricultural industry, which I’m relishing to embrace.
“I intend to utilise my funding from the Walter Rowlands Memorial to purchase a Digital Canon camera that will be required during my studies where over the next five years of practical and theoretical training I will gain my qualification as a Chartered Surveyor.”
FUW Glamorgan County Chairman Richard Walker, said: “The FUW is extremely keen to support budding young farmers through this award, which consists of a £200 grant to be used towards educational studies. We chose Isobel for this award as she has a wide range of interests in the YFC, is very motivated and clearly has a promising future career in the agricultural industry. On behalf of the FUW I wish her all the success for the future.”