Farmers from Glamorgan have visited Llanfair Primary School, Cowbridge to highlight the positive role farming plays and answer questions the children had about food production. Farmers’ Union of Wales Glamorgan County Chair Richard Walker arrived in his Massey Ferguson Tractor to the sound of the children singing in their school assembly.
Food Education is high on the agenda for the members of the Union’s Glamorgan Executive Committee and along with meetings with YFC clubs across Glamorgan, Richard Walker felt it was time we went back to school.
Joined by Acting FUW Glamorgan County Vice Rachel Walker, FUW County Executive Officer Sharon Pritchard and Deputy County Executive Officer Helen Thomas it was a morning of information sharing and education on all farming matters.
Richard commented: “To see how engaged the children were really made my morning. They had so many questions. We really had a great morning talking to the children about harvesting, shearing and food production.”
Rachel added: “We are extremely driven in Glamorgan about food and agricultural education. It is very important to us as a committee to visit schools and YFC clubs to make sure we stay connected to the younger generation, they are after all the future generation of our industry.”
Sharon explained: “It really was a fantastic morning for the children to see Richard in the tractor. Rachel also brought along a few fleeces for the children to see and feel what wool looks like before it’s treated and then I followed up with a slide show of harvesting and food production.
“I felt like a movie star at the 3.30pm school pick up! The children were so excited to tell all their parents about how Farmer Richard and Farmer Rachel had visited their school. You know the children have enjoyed their day when they can’t wait to go home and tell their parents,” said Rachel.
Richard added: “It is so important that we invest the time in helping to educate our children. Unfortunately we are losing families out of the farming industry due to many reasons such as succession and financial struggles. We need to do all we can to help encourage youngsters into the industry.”
With such a successful visit the FUW Glamorgan Committee have more visits planned for this year. If you would like to organise a school visit please get in touch sharon.pritchard@fuw.org.uk
