A GWYNEDD farmer has received a special award at the Royal Welsh Show.

With the theme of embracing innovation and communication skills, the winner of this year’s Royal Welsh Agricultural Society’s Dr Emrys Evans Award is Jim Ellis, of Llwyndyrus Farm, Y Ffôr.

There were six candidates up for the award.

“Embracing innovation and communication skills is a broad brief, and each of the entrants interpreted it differently which made judging this award particularly interesting,” said the judges, Susan Jones and Anna Jones.

“It was an incredibly difficult decision because all the candidates were strong contenders, each demonstrating real passion, originality and dedication. However, one nominee stood out.”

Jim is a young person who combines beef and sheep farming, on a traditional Welsh family farm, with a new venture setting up his own creative studios on the Llyn Peninsula off­ering photography, drone videography, graphics and 3D visualisation to show off Welsh farming at its best. Jim has a wide range of clients – from machinery dealers to arts centres – and the quality of his work is exceptional.

On the communication side, Jim is sharing his creative and business skills with students at Glynllifon agricultural college.

He is leading a group of students under an ‘innovation fund’; encouraging them to think of themselves, not just as young farmers, but as entrepreneurs, innovators and communicators. Jim believes his goal is to assist rural businesses in utilising technology to reach global markets “without limitations”.

“At just 23 years old we felt there are no limits to Jim’s potential and he is worthy of recognition by being awarded the Dr Emrys Evans Award for 2018,” added the judges.

A certificate and medal was presented on Monday at the Royal Welsh Show in memory of Dr Emrys Evans, a Royal Welsh gold medallist and chairman of the Royal Welsh Agricultural Society’s board of directors, who died on the eve of the centenary show in 2004.

Two other agricultural workers from the Pwllheli area also received recognition at the show for their long service.

Stephen David Adams, 56, of Llannor, has worked for Richard Thomas Ellis, Carnguwch, Llithfaen, for 40 years, and Gwilym Pearce Jones, 67, of Glasfryn, has worked within the industry for 52 years, most recently for Williams-Ellis, Glasfryn Estate, Pwllheli, for 40 years.

They will receive Royal Welsh Agricultural Society Long Service Medals.