Welsh hill farmer wins community champion award

A farmer who used social media to raise awareness of the plight of snow-hit hill farmers has won a top NFU community award.

Gareth Wyn Jones from Llanfairfechan in North Wales was handed the NFU Cymru-Principality Welsh Rural Community Champion Award for his tireless media work during the severe weather in early 2013.

A film of Mr Jones rescuing pregnant ewes and ponies trapped on the mountains reached millions of people when it was posted online. He also appeared on dozens of local and national news programmes and radio stations to share his story and regularly tweeted updates about rescue efforts, earning him the moniker “the tweeting farmer”.

Pat Ashman from Principality Building Society said: “Thousands of people know who Gareth is after seeing his rescue efforts in the media earlier this year, but for me Gareth is even more worthy because he epitomises the 21st century farmer. He has truly led by example, tapping into new communication tools to engage and work together with other farmers and communities to improve their areas.”

The award recognises the hard work farmers do off the farm to help their local town or village community. Mr Jones won the top prize of a hand-crafted slate clock and £500. Runners-up Jonathon Harrington from Powys and Gerwyn Owen from Ceredigion won £100 each.