Vale of Glamorgan MP and Secretary of State for Wales, Alun Cairns, has congratulated a local farmer in his constituency on a prestigious award win.
Alun Cairns MP visited Goldsland Farm, Wenvoe on Wednesday 3rd August to pay tribute to Abi Reader, who received the NFU Cymru Wales Woman Farmer Award during the Royal Welsh Show last month.
The award, now in its 20th year, champions the contribution women make to the agricultural industry and seeks to raise the profile of women in farming.
Abi is a partner in the family farm, along with her father and uncle. The farm comprises of approximately 800 acres with the main enterprise being the dairy herd, which Abi manages. Abi was successfully elected as the Glamorgan NFU Cymru County Chairman in 2014 and has seized this opportunity to meet with influential industry members and lobby for change.
Off the farm, Abi is also extremely busy, hosting farm open days, charity events and more recently Cows On Tour, which is a roadshow that visits primary schools to tell the farming story. Abi is particularly keen to educate the next generation of consumers and strives to show children that Welsh farming is an industry worth backing.
Alun Cairns MP said: “Abi Reader has been a passionate advocate for Welsh farming for many years and a fantastic farmer in her own right. I could not think of anyone more deserving of this prestigious award.
“It was a pleasure to visit her farm in Wenvoe and learn more about what is required to successfully manage such a large dairy herd.
“Farming is crucial to the local area and to the wider Welsh economy. I was impressed by Abi’s contribution in terms high-quality produce and her determination to see the industry succeed further.”
Abi Reader added: “It was a privilege to welcome Alun Cairns to the farm today, show him around the site and talk to him about the key role agriculture plays as an economic driver in the local community and across Wales. I’m particularly pleased that Alun has lent his support to NFU Cymru’s Back Welsh Farming campaign and that he will look to champion Welsh produce.”