THE unsung heroines of Welsh farming have been honoured with a prestigious award.

This year’s NFU Cymru/Principality Building Society Wales woman farmer of the year award was presented at the Royal Welsh Winter Fair next week, with two women from west Wales among the final three.

NFU Cymru deputy president, Stephen James said: “It was very difficult to choose a winner for this year’s award as the shortlisted finalists were of a very high standard. But they all have one thing in common – complete commitment to their own farms and to the industry as a whole.”

Pat Ashman, sponsorship and events manager, Principality Building Society added: “When choosing the winner, the panel of judges looked at a number of different criteria including their part in making the farm a successful economic unit and their contribution to improving the role of women in farming.”

The winner is Cheryl Thomas, of Gelli Gatrog Farm, Pontantwn, Kidwelly, who runs a pedigree Holstein herd of 150 cows with her husband Elwyn. Cheryl is in charge of the heifer rearing and is also involved with milking twice daily and she is responsible for rearing around 25 bulls every year. Cheryl is actively involved in her local community and recently organised a calendar, which has already raised £19,000 for the breast cancer unit at Llanelli’s Prince Philip hospital.

Mandy Colbourne, of Glyn Elwyn, Whitland, is one of the runners-up. Mandy is responsible for all livestock activities with rare breed pigs, a variety of different breeds of sheep including Ryelands, Dartmoor and Zwartble. She rears poultry and keeps a small herd of pedigree Anglo Nubian goats.

The other runner-up is Helen Bennett, of Upper Hall, Welshpool, Powys.