QuestionTime

Home > QuestionTime 27/11/2023
27 NOV 2023
Welsh Winter Fair
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Quiz the speakers

Fantastic opportunity to put your questions forward and hear what the speakers have to say.

A series of regional LIVE debates

Policy makers and influential figures will be talking about key agricultural topics and current affairs that are relevant to your region.

Networking opportunity

Following the event, there will be an evening drinks reception where you will have the opportunity to network with likeminded peers in the industry.

Meet the QuestionTime host

Voice of the Farmers Weekly podcast and projects editor, Johann Tasker, is taking to the stage to host our new Question Time live show.

A long-standing and integral member of the Farmers Weekly team, he has been reporting and analysing the impact of government policy on agriculture – and how it affects farm businesses – for more than 20 years.

Most recently he has led our agricultural transition and farm safety (Dying to Feed You) projects alongside production of the weekly podcast with co-host Hugh Broom.

Running order:

  • Registration: 17:30
  • Live QuestionTime: 18:00 - 19:15
  • Drinks reception: from 19:15

Speakers

Anne-Marie Harries

Anne-Marie Harries is an award winning Artisan Preserve maker based on her families north Pembrokeshire small holding.

Anne-Marie Harries

Anne-Marie Harries is an award-winning artisan preserve maker based on her family's North Pembrokeshire smallholding.

Her parents were brassica growers and grew 8 million plants a year. They then took on a successful village pub, which Anne-Marie ran with them and is where Farmers Food at home began.

After 16 years of pub life and her parents wanting to retire, Anne-Marie decided to make jam her full time profession.

The growing background enables fresh produce to be grown for the preserves and also to stock the farm shop that was built over lockdown.

More info >

Llyr Gruffydd

Llyr began his career as a youth worker before going to work for the Wales Youth Agency and the Council for Wales of Voluntary Youth Services.

Llyr Gruffydd

Llyr Gruffydd, Senedd for North Wales region

Llyr began his career as a youth worker before going to work for the Wales Youth Agency and the Council for Wales of Voluntary Youth Services.

He later became project manager for an economic development company. Llyr has also been a management consultant for the National Trust in Wales.

Llyr has served as a Member of the Senedd for the North Wales region since 2011. During that time he has chaired the Senedd’s Finance Committee (2018-2021) and the Climate Change, Environment and Infrastructure Committee (2021 to date).

Llyr has a track record of fighting for rural and agricultural communities. He has been a constant advocate for the protection of rural services and has been a prominent critic of the government’s failure to tackle bovine TB.

He also led the debate against the nitrate vulnerable zone regulations, urging a more proportionate approach.

More info >

Aled Jones

Aled Jones is NFU Cymru President and an eighth-generation farmer who runs a pedigree herd of Holsteins with his with his son, Osian.

Aled Jones

Aled Jones is NFU Cymru President and an eighth-generation farmer who runs a pedigree herd of Holsteins with his with his son, Osian.

Aled has previously held a variety of positions across the industry, including holding the post of chairman of milk recording company Cattle Information Services (CIS) for seven years and being a trustee of Holstein UK for eight years.

More info >

Kim Waters

Kim established Welsh Rivers Union to restore Welsh rivers with community-based action holding those responsible for pollution and regulatory failure to account.

Kim Waters

Kim was born in Newport, South Wales and lives with his family near Abergavenny, who have dual citizenship with Sweden.

He has just handed over the reins of the Abergavenny Food Festival as its CEO having been involved since 2009.

He has been a trustee of the Wye and Usk Foundation for 10 years and a board member of Afonydd Cymru – The Rivers Trust of Wales.

He is committed to restore the UK’s rivers, an area of ecology that he is passionate about and has established a voluntary organisation (NFP) called Welsh Rivers Union.

Its aim is to restore Welsh rivers with community-based action holding those responsible for pollution and regulatory failure to account.

Before his Abergavenny life, he was a senior executive, including various managing director roles at Reuters Ltd, the international news agency.

He is best described as a global nomad with a passion for his home environment of Wales and a belief in community power.

More info >

Entrance Royal Welsh Showground

Venue

Location and Parking

Welsh Winter Fair, Llanelwedd, Builth Wells LD2 3SY

Getting there by car

The showground is located where the A470 and A483 cross at Llanelwedd, Builth Wells.

The FREE park and ride carparks are located on all main routes to the showground and are well signposted from all directions.

Please follow the direction of the traffic and parking marshals to ensure you park quickly and safely and remember to take a note of which car park you have parked in.

Regular FREE park and ride buses will be running to and from the showground from 7.30am until 9.30pm.

Getting there by train

The nearest train station is Builth Road. A FREE shuttle bus will bring you the short distance to the showground. The shuttle buses will return to the train station, leaving the Machinery entrance of the showground, 30 minutes before each train’s departure. For more information and an up-to-date timetable go to: Transport for Wales: www.tfw.wales

Getting there by bus

The regular T4 bus route between Newtown and Cardiff stops in both Builth Wells and Llanelwedd, only a short walk to the showground.

For more information and an up-to-date timetable go to:

www.trawscymru.info

www.traveline.cymru

Visitors to RWAS events are subject to security searches as a condition of entry.

Accessibility

A forward parking area is available in all our park & ride carparks for visitors displaying a Blue Badge. FREE low access park and ride shuttle buses will take visitors to and from the showground between 7.30am and 9.30pm.

We also have a limited number of ‘paid for’ (£5/day) spaces for disabled visitors in a carpark adjacent to the showground. Access to this carpark will only be possible by displaying the correct parking passes, which must be purchased in advance by calling 01982 553683.

Disabled toilets are located within the main toilet blocks by the Pig amd Goat Ring, the Montgomery Pavilion, the Clwyd Glamorgan Hall, within the Smallholder Centre (South Glamorgan Exhibition Hall), Welcome (Members) Centre and the Horse Ring toilet block.

Dietary Requirements

If your application is successful, please inform us of any dietary requirements two weeks prior to the event. You can contact us at our eventsandprojects email.

Sponsors

TIAH

TIAH is agriculture and horticulture’s professional body. As the home of skills and careers support, TIAH helps people and businesses to fulfil their potential, and the industry to thrive.

Launching its membership services in 2024, TIAH will be the gateway to all the tailored advice and practical tools needed to pursue a rewarding career in an exciting industry.

Through TIAH, individuals and businesses will be empowered to demonstrate their professional credentials through continued professional development and record keeping.

Visit website

Lightsource bp

Lightsource bp is an international solar business. We develop, finance, build and operate utility-scale solar power projects through smart and sustainable solutions.

Since 2010 we’ve been partnering with UK landowners on solar projects, providing secure, long-term income for farms and rural businesses looking to diversify their operations.

Our commitment to sustainability goes beyond solar – we’re creating projects that benefit the local environment and provide multi-land-use opportunities, as well as providing sustainable and affordable energy to businesses and communities throughout the UK.

Visit website

Pictures of the event

 
 
 
 

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FAQ's

If I am not able to attend can someone go in my place?

Yes, but you need to inform us at least 24 hours before.

How do you select panel members?

We aim to select a panel of influential figures within the agricultural industry who have a broad range of views, knowledge, and experience. Where possible we try and select panellists who are relevant to the area in which the event is taking place.

How do you select audience?

To make the audience diverse and to ensure a range of different views and opinions are reflected, we try to select audience members of varying age groups and occupations. The successful audience members will be contacted by a member of the Farmers Weekly team and asked to provide two questions for the panel.

Will there be a drinks reception?

Following the event, there will be an evening drinks reception where canapes and light refreshments will be provided.

Is the event free to attend?

Yes, the event is free to attend, however you do need to apply to be a member of the audience.