Every year the Royal Welsh Agricultural Society offers a bursary to enable young people to attend the Oxford Farming Conference. To qualify for the bursary candidates must be between 25 and 35 years old and working in a land-based industry.
The Oxford Farming Conference, held annually in early January, has established a reputation for strong debate and exceptional speakers. The conference is one of the most important events of its kind bringing together farmers, politicians, scientists and others to discuss the future development of the agricultural industry. The 2021 conference will celebrate its 75th anniversary and will be hosted as a digital one-day conference on 7 January, with the theme “Business as Unusual” which could not come at a more important time, just 7 days after leaving the EU and with the pandemic changing life and business as we once knew it.
Seven candidates came forward for an online interview this year and the Society’s representatives Mrs Nicola Davies, Mrs Menna Evans and Mr Rhys Griffith made up the panel of judges.
The judges noted that the enthusiasm and drive showed by all candidates for their chosen path was indeed compelling and that it was encouraging to hear such positive feedback on the future of our industry and rural way of life. On concluding the interview process the judges had no doubt that they have indeed met future leaders of the industry.
The judges stated that they were very impressed with the calibre of all the candidates. They finally agreed that the Oxford Farming Conference Bursary 2021 should be awarded to Ms Ffion Medi Rees of Carmarthenshire.
