New county advisor for NFU in Clwyd and Montgomershire
A woman who says she has lived and breathed agriculture since she was little has been appointed the new NFU Cymru County Adviser for Clwyd and Montgomeryshire.
Gwawr Parry, who was raised on a farm on Anglesey, now lives in Llanfair Caereinion with her partner James and their eight-month-old daughter, Gwenllian, on a sheep farm with a small sucker herd.
After studying agriculture at Nottingham University, Gwawr worked with GenusABS at its main stud in Ruthin. She then moved to Aberystwyth to work with Hybu Cig Cymru (HCC), initially as an Industry Development Officer and then as a Flock Genetics Executive. Since 2018 she led the Hill Ram Scheme funded by the Rural Development Programme and was part of HCC’s Red Meat Development Programme, which looked in to incorporating DNA parentage into hill flocks, as she is very passionate about genetics.
Speaking about her appointment, Gwawr said: “I have lived and breathed agriculture since I was little and growing up I wanted to learn more about different sectors. I am still learning every day and that is one of the things I love the most about livestock, and the farming industry in general.
"It always keeps you on your toes. My ambition was always to be a part of the agricultural industry and to make a difference where I could.
“As County Adviser for Clwyd and Montgomeryshire I am looking forward to supporting the membership and keeping them informed of current policy developments. I will also be supporting the group secretaries across the two counties as they take the membership from strength-to-strength.
“I am most looking forward to working with the officeholders, specifically the two county chairs, and learning from their experience and ambitions for their respective counties. I also look forward to getting to know the wider membership and to be able to give them a platform and a voice in the ever-changing landscape that we currently face.”
Welcoming Gwawr to the team, John Mercer, director of NFU Cymru, said: “I am really pleased that we have been able to secure the expertise of Gwawr as part of our county adviser team. With a passion for the industry, the membership of Clwyd and Montgomeryshire will be in good hands, and I’m sure she will help us ensure we meet the needs of our growing membership.”
