Mid Wales

Farm Open Day

4 September 2011

Treberfedd Farm opened their gates to the public on Sunday 4th September, holding an open day in aid of the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution (RABI). Over £350 was raised on the day to support the work of RABI.

The open day was held as a celebration of local produce with locally produced jams, ice cream, flour, bread and Treberfedd organic lamb on sale. A hog roast meant people could sample some of the organic meat reared on the farm as well.

In the morning an outdoor church service was held by Eileen Davies, vicar of Dihewyd church “It was fantastic to hold a service in the sunshine in such beautiful surroundings. We gave thanks for all the wonderful food that is produced in our county and for the work RABI do in helping farming families in need” she said.

The day was attended by over 150 people and it allowed the public to see a working organic farm up close and learn how some of the highest quality beef and lamb is produced in Ceredigion, right on their doorstep.

Tractor and trailer rides and farm walks gave people the chance to enjoy the Ceredigion countryside and see the native breed Hereford cattle and Llanwenog sheep at Treberfedd. A correct guess of 940kg won Lampeter student Iwan Morgan a joint of Hereford beef in the Guess the weight of the bull competition.

There were lots of activities for children too with a bouncy castle, face painting, daffodil planting and modern and vintage tractors to sit on.
Farmer at Treberfedd, Jack Cockburn said “it was great to welcome everyone to the farm and see them enjoying the local food and the countryside. We hope the day will help build recognition of the valuable work farmers do in Wales and for the vital support RABI provide to farming families in their time of need”.

Treberfedd is a working organic beef and sheep farm with four holiday cottages and a small training and conference venue. The farm is situated in the unspoilt county of Ceredigion, west Wales, near the beautiful coastline of Cardigan Bay. For more information please visit www.treberfedd.co.uk.

Royal Welsh Show

July 2011

Another great year at the Royal Welsh Show for RABI. The stand was constantly busy throughout the show and christmas cards sold well as always.

We were especially pleased to welcome Adam Henson on to the stand, where he met selected guests and then spent some time signing his latest book. He was also on hand to help with the cheque presentation from Lloyds TSB for £6,000 which has been raised through various fundraising activities.

A big thank you must go to Adam for spending so much time with us and to Lloyds TSB for arranging it all.

 

Cheque presentation from Lloyds TSB.

Adam busy with his book signing

  Adam Henson with Lord & Lady Plumb

Tributes to RABI at FUW Dinner

9 November 2010

Leading Welsh Assembly politicians paid tribute to the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution (RABI) for its dedicated work - especially during the devastating foot and mouth disease outbreaks of 2001 and 2007 - at a Farmers' Union of Wales dinner to celebrate the institution's 150th anniversary.

First Minister Carwyn Jones, who was Rural Affairs Minister for two years from July 2000, told 160 diners at Parc y Scarlets, Llanelli, he remembers the fear of the Welsh farming industry when the 2001 outbreak first hit. "It was the fear of not knowing what would happen next and that fear was very real.
"One of the things that I remember is the work of RABI at that time. An occasion like this shows the dedicated work that RABI has provided for so many years to the farming industry and I hope that work will continue for many, many years.

"Farming is never easy and when I was Rural Affairs Minister I got to learn that farming is such an important way of life. I think we have come a long way since then and farming is in better shape now than 10 years ago.
"There is now far more of a connection between people and farming and what people want to buy. If we put our mind to it we can go out there and sell Welsh Lamb, Welsh Beef and our other products because they are the best in the world and now we realise that people want the best."

Current Rural Affairs Minister Elin Jones said she first came to know about all the good work of RABI from the fund-raising activities in her Ceredigion constituency. "I then came across RABI again in discussions regarding the foot and mouth outbreak in August 2007.

"That outbreak wasn't as dramatic or traumatic as 2001 but it still shut off the trade and export in lamb in the autumn of that year and it had such a dramatic effect on farmers. I was struck by the work that RABI did in supporting farmers in that difficult time in such a quiet way.

"It's very fashionable at the moment to say that the 'Big Society' is so important but the 'Big Society' in Wales has been happening for a very long time and RABI has been at the forefront of that work. I want to thank them for the way they have been supporting Welsh life and society for the past 150 years."
RABI chief executive Julian Sayers said: "We have been hearing about how we supported farmers during the foot and mouth outbreaks and I hope it will never happen again but should it do so RABI will be there to help again.
"Nowadays, thank God, farming is being given the recognition it deserves. Let's hope the farming industry will remain profitable for many years to come because it is vital that we attract young blood into the industry and young people will only come into an industry if it is successful.

"Our charity is as relevant today as it was 150 years ago because we have a vital role to play."

Local AM Rhodri Glyn Thomas praised the work of RABI and pointed out that in Wales it handed out a total of £282,103 to beneficiaries last year. The total amount raised in Wales was £29,368 with Carmarthenshire topping the list by raising £6,225.

FUW president Gareth Vaughan said many of the union's members and staff served on RABI committees the length and breadth of Wales and he was proud of the close working relationship between both organisations.

Tel: 01686 650937 Mobile: 07799 798446 Email: erys.hughes@rabi.org.uk