Young farmers receive awards from Mike German (From Western Telegraph)

Young farmers receive awards from Mike German

Two local young farmers received awards last week at the Royal Welsh Winter Fair from Assembly Minister for Rural Development, Mike German.

Ross Anthony, aged 22, of Waunfawr, Blaenwaun, Whitland was a runner-up for the Land-based Learner of the Year award, jointly sponsored by Lantra and ELWa.

The younger son of Peter and Mary Anthony, he works at home on the 162-acre family farm which carries a dairy herd of New Zealand Friesians. A graduate of the Welsh Institute of Rural Studies, Aberystwyth, he is also employed part-time at Whitland Mart and recently received Lantra awards in dairy hoof trimming and in the operation of rough terrain fork lift trucks. The current chairman of Llanwinio YFC, of which his parents are joint leaders, he spent three months in Zambia earlier this year, on a YFC exchange, helping out at a boarding school.

Said Louise McCarthy, Lantra media co-ordinator: "At interview he showed an infectious enthusiasm for the agricultural industry, had a very good technical knowledge and did an excellent job of meeting the presentation brief."

John Thomas, aged 18, of Great Letterston Farm, was also a runner-up for the Land-based Learner of the Year, award.

He shares the responsibilities for the management and milking of a herd of 260 Holstein Friesian cows on the family farm and is currently studying as a day- release agricultural student of the Pembrokeshire College for an NVQ Level III qualification in Livestock Production.

He was said to have demonstrated to the judging panel 'a very good specialised dairy knowledge and a determined attitude'.