A young farmer from Llangwyryfon has been named the winner of the Menter Moch Cymru and Wales YFC Pig Finishing Initiative 2021.

Eiry Gwenllian Williams, who is a member of Llangwyryfon YFC, won the title, with the result announced as part of the Royal Welsh Winter Fair.

The competition is an annual joint venture between Menter Moch Cymru and Wales YFC and aims to encourage the next generation of pig keepers and to get farmers thinking about pigs as a viable diversification option. During the four years the initiative has been running, many new and successful businesses and pig herds have been established.

The Menter Moch Cymru is funded by the Welsh Government Rural Communities – Rural Development Programme 2014-2020, which is funded by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development and the Welsh Government.

In early September, the six finalists, including Eiry’s fellow Ceredigion farmers Dylan Phillips and Laura Evans, also of Llangwyryfon, and Luned Jones of Llanwnnen, was given five, eight-week-old Welsh weaners to rear.

These were weighed every fortnight and their feed intake was also recorded. The finalists also entered into a bespoke training programme to help them with their venture.

The final challenge of this year’s competition was held today when all six competitors showcased their pigs in live showing classes at the Royal Welsh Winter fair.

Eiry was thrilled to be the overall winner of the competition: “I never thought that I would win the competition. It has been a fantastic experience and I have enjoyed every second of it.

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank Menter Moch Cymru and YFC Wales for giving us the opportunity to start keeping pigs. My intention is to carry on keeping pigs in the future. The experience has been fun and educational.”