Hybu Cig Cymru – Meat Promotion Wales (HCC) has announced that a new scholar will be assuming to role of Chair of the HCC Scholarship Association, a group of influential scholarship alumni involved in the Welsh red meat industry.
Alison Harvey, who lives in Tregaron and works as an agricultural manager for Dunbia, takes over the role from farmer and former Farmers Weekly Beef Farmer of the Year, Richard Tudor who is from Llanerfyl.
Machynlleth farmer and tv personality Will Evans, Hendreseifion also takes over the role of vice-Chair from Alison.
The announcement was made at a HCC Scholarship Association reception at the Winter Fair where 2018 scholars Peredur Owen and Dafydd Huw Evans made presentations about their own respective Scholarships: Peredur travelled to America to study grazing systems and antibiotic usage whilst Dafydd travelled to New Zealand to look at improving production from low fertility land.
The Scholarship Association has been in existence for over 20 years and aims to facilitate individuals working within the Welsh red meat industry to travel the world and learn about different topics and practices across the globe. Scholars are encouraged to share their findings with the entire industry to share best practice and learnings. Since its establishment over 40 individuals have undertaken a Scholarship.
The Scholarship Association boasts a range of past scholars including both the FUW and NFU Cymru Presidents, Glyn Roberts and John Davies. Whilst many scholars are primary producers, other scholars have been involved in butchery, product development and academia. Over the years, topics have ranged from genetic improvement and TechnoGrazing to reducing greenhouse gas emissions with Alison’s own scholarship taking her to France and the USA to study lamb grading systems in 2012.
HCC’s Industry Development Executive James Ruggeri commented ‘We would like to welcome Alison into the role of Scholarship Association Chair. We look forward to working with Alison and Will over the next 2 years as the Scholarship Association moves into the next decade.’
James continued ‘We would also like to extend our sincere thanks to Richard Tudor for being an energetic and enthusiastic Chair for the past 2 years; his experience and knowledge of the industry has undoubtedly helped shape the Scholarship Association and individual scholars’ development.’
The 2020 Scholarship will be open for application in the Spring of 2020.
