Nuffield Farmining Scholarship

It's that time of year again.

Last year, when I went for my first interview for the Nuffield, I was inspired by Heather Gorringe, of Wiggly Wrigglers, to write my own Blog. Heather was successful in obtaining her scholarship, but unfortunately I fluffed my interview, was initially gutted, so I decided to try again, but I promised myself I would make the twelve months in between really count. And I think I have achieved that.

New year is mostly a time to reflect and with this anniversary of the blog I think now is appropriate.
We joined LEAF (Linking Environment And Farming)
I enrol ed in the first ever trial Welsh CEVAS (Countryside Educational Visits Accreditation Scheme) course, enabling us to take school visits onto the farm.
We were asked if FACE (Farm And Countryside Education) could use our farm as a portfolio on their site, which we agreed to. (http://www.face-online.org.uk/)
I finished my NVQ level 4 in management - adding Dip.RSA after my name.
We successfully opened as one of only 7 farms in wales on Open Farm Sunday June 10th and had over 200 visitors.
We made contact with our MP and have had several meetings with him where we have bought to his attention some of the problems in farming and remain in contact with him regularly.
We opened a local village Farmers Market, which had to close due to lack of continuity both from supplier and customers, but it gave us the idea of a Farm Shop.
We approached a farm on the main road and formed a partnership to open a Local farm Shop
We hosted our third visit from Coleg Powys Agricultural Students.
I made two visits to local schools with our cawl making workshop.
Both Philip & I had the confidence to apply to become Industry Board members of Hybu Cig Cymru -(even though both of us failed to get an interview)
I put FACE in touch with the YMCA College Cardiff to try and get funding to put on more CEVAS courses in Wales.
Hosted young farmes Clubs Visits to the Farm
Have been asked to do demonstrations and talks for local clubs i.e. the WI
We have taken every opportunity locally to get the media involved in anything we have done so lifting the profile of local food and farming.
We have helped Penoffa Pork to get going, processing their pork for them, so they can sell it on farmers markets and locally.
I met up with Powys County Council head of Catering and had several meetings talking about the procurement of local food for school lunches, he actually came out to the farm -

So all in all I have to thank the Nuffield for turning me down, because it gave me the energy to seek out all these things this year and grow in confidence within the industry - wow just think what actually getting a Nuffield would do for me? Well fingers crossed my interview is next Wednesday at precisely 10.3. I am going to stop the night before with my son Daniel....... never do just one thing if you can do two - that's my motto!!!!!