NSA Cymru/Wales Region Annual Members Meeting

It was the sign of successful Annual Members meeting for NSA Cymru/Wales Region on Thursday (18th February) when extra chairs had to be found for attendees at the Royal Welsh Showground. Phil Stocker, NSA Chief Executive, comments on an excellent event: “I asked if I could wrap this event up after all the speakers had finished and, in doing this, said that if only more people knew how good the afternoon was going to be we would not have all fitted into Hafod y Hendre. It was truly a great meeting with four inspiring speakers and much discussion.

"Llew Thomas, who breeds pedigree Lleyn sheep at Peniel in Carmarthenshire, will take over the reins as NSA Cymru/Wales Regional Chairman. Llew is passionate about the sheep industry and about the NSA Young Ambassadors Programme. His priority during his two-year period in office is the new NSA building on the Royal Welsh Showground, along with the all-important lobbying on behalf of the sheep industry. Tim Ward of Churchstoke, Powys will take on the position of Vice Chairman." Continues Phil.

Practical sheep health is essential territory for NSA meetings and first up was Joe Angell, a practising vet teaching at Liverpool vet school, who spoke about research and control of CODD. He explained research he had undertaken at Liverpool University which shows eradication of Contagious Ovine Digital Dermatitis, CODD, to have a high failure rate so making it an expensive option. The best tools appeared to be good quarantine on farm, together with improved bio security. You can download Joe Angell's presentation on CODD at the bottom of this page.  

Phil adds: "NSA Next Generation Ambassadors, George Gough and Georgie Radmore (pictured). Both reported on the confidence and personal development the NSA Next Generation Ambassador programme had afforded them. George also talked about his personal highlight of the programme; a visit to the British Wool Marketing Board headquarters at Bradford. Finally, hill farmer Gareth Wyn Jones, who made his fame during the horrendous snows of 2013 and who has become a real face of hill farming, both entertained and inspired everyone present, focussing his speech on the importance of marketing to farmers."