Five new Fellows of Royal Agricultural Societies are from Wales
Carmenthenshire farmer Tim Bennett of Maesybont, Llanelli, a former President of the NFU of England and Wales, is one of five Associates of the Royal Agricultural Societies who have been awarded Fellowships for their continued significant contributions to agriculture.
Mr Bennett, who was NFU Deputy President for five years, was elected President in 2005 and held the office before being appointed to the UK Levy Board in 2007. He was instrumental in establishing Dairy Co which administers statutory levies from the milk sector and is a board member of the Agricultural and Horticultural Development Board. He is also a board member of the Food Standards Agency and the Meat Hygiene Service.
An advocate of environmentally sustainable farming who practices conservation on his own farm in Carmarthenshire especially in hedgerow management and areas of ancient woodland, he is a trustee of the Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group which provides on-farm nature conservation advice.
The other four Associates who have been promoted to Fellows of the Royal Agricultural Societies are Mrs Kathryn Ellis, E. Llewelyn Evans, Moss Jones and John Pritchard, all of whom were awarded Associateships in 2004.
Mrs Ellis, who farms 350 acres with her husband near Pwllheli, Gwynedd, is a former international chairman of the National Federation of Young Farmers Clubs. With pressure on many farmers to diversify she has adapted buildings on the farm into self-catering holiday accommodation. A recent project included the conversion of a former tractor shed into a spa, sauna and therapy salon for use by guests.
Mrs Ellis is a non-executive director of the North Wales National Health Trust, chairman of the local magistrates court and vice chairman of the governors of the local High School.
E. Llewelyn Evans of Glanrafon, Rhydymain, Dolgellau, is a former head of the
Agriculture, Horticulture and Environmental Department at Coleg Meirionnydd, Dolgellau. The department did not have a teaching farm and with teaching geared to providing practical activity he forged a close relationship between the college and the local farming community. In 1978 he established the Meirionnydd Grassland Society and acted as secretary for 16 years. In 1974 he became secretary of the RWAS Meirionnydd Advisory Committee, a position he still holds, and was awarded an Honorary Life Vice Presidency of the society in 1990 in recognition of his outstanding contribution.
Moss Jones became an Associate in 2004 for his personal contribution to agriculture in the field of agricultural cooperation and collaboration. He joined the WAOS, the central body for agricultural cooperatives in Wales in 1976 since when there have been few cooperative ventures in Wales in which he has not been involved in either a management role or advisory capacity. He is secretary of the Welsh Mountain Sheep Society and the Welsh Halfbred Sheep Breeders Association and as company secretary of Welsh Lamb and Beef Promotions Ltd he is focussing on improving the Farm Assured Welsh Livestock Scheme and is presently setting up a website where beef, sheep and dairy farmers can be guided through various animal health schemes. He believes the next decade will see the development of a web-based model of information that will be of immense value to farmer cooperatives.
John Pritchard of Caernarfon is a former vice principal of Glynllifon College and associate principal of Coleg Meirion Dwyfor who, during his career, endeavoured to ensure that the course curriculum offered to agricultural students was relevant to the changing needs of the industry.
He was chairman of the Caernarfon Gwynedd Advisory Committee of the RWAS for 20 years and was this year made an Honorary Life Governor for his outstanding services to the society. He is also secretary of the South Caernarfon Grassland Society and as a student of archaeology found a rare example of a Stone Age axe on land he owns in Anglesey.
top print