This year’s Meurig Raymond Award – named after the NFU’s former President – was last night presented to NFU Cymru member Llŷr Jones.
Mr Jones, who farms at Corwen, Denbighshire, is a member of the NFU Cymru Next Generation Group and a regular contributor to local and county meetings and events.
He spearheaded NFU Cymru’s media work around COP26, acting as a farmer climate change ambassador, and hosted a visit by COP26 President Alok Sharma.
“As a farmer I have a responsibility to leave my farm to my children in a better state than I inherited it. And that’s what I intend to do.”
Llŷr Jones, winner of the 2022 Meurig Raymond award
He also produced a series of daily social media videos during Countryside COP week to highlight the array of sustainable methods he is using on farm including renewable energy – the farm produces its own electricity through a hydro system - and tree planting and peatland projects.
“Llŷr really stood out as the worthy overall winner of this year’s Meurig Raymond Award. He really is the embodiment of what the NFU is all about.”
NFU Director General Terry Jones
Hard work, dedication and positivity
Receiving the award, Mr Jones said: “It is a huge surprise but a great honour to win this award. British farmers have a great story to tell. I’m very proud of producing fantastic quality food, producing renewable energy and caring for the environment.
“As a farmer I have a responsibility to leave my farm to my children in a better state than I inherited it. And that’s what I intend to do.”
NFU Director General Terry Jones said: “From our eight fantastic nominees, Llŷr really stood out as the worthy overall winner of this year’s Meurig Raymond Award.
“He really is the embodiment of what the NFU is all about. As well as running his own farming business in the hills of North Wales and being an engaged grassroots NFU Cymru member, Llŷr is a brilliant advocate for the industry, promoting work on climate change and net zero, as well as regularly hosting local school children to explain the farm to fork story of British food.
“Llŷr’s hard work, dedication and positivity has made him a progressive voice for the farming industry and helped raise the profile of Welsh farmers and what they do best – producing food and caring for the environment.”
The nominees
Mr Jones, representing NFU Cymru, was selected from eight nominees drawn from each of the NFU’s seven English regions and NFU Cymru.
The other nominees were:
- Freya Morgan (East Anglia)
- Jake Freestone (West Midlands)
- Angela Sargent (East Midlands)
- Tim Lock (South East)
- Zoe Legg (South West)
- Richard Betton (North East)
- Andy Venables (North West)