SEVEN young farmers from across Wales will see the world thanks to a travel scholarship.

A total of £1,950 has been awarded through the Gareth Raw Rees Memorial Travel Scholarship to seven youngsters wishing to broaden their knowledge of agriculture.

Sian Downes, the main winner, from Llangeitho, in Ceredigion, will receive £500 to help fund a four week trip to visit and stay on farms in the Ontario state of Canada.

She said: “I am really looking forward to spending time in Canada to widen my knowledge of agriculture and in particular to learn more about the role of genetics in the breeding of dairy animals. I hope to gain a new perspective on farming and I’m keen to learn new techniques and innovations that I’ll be able to bring back to benefit the family farm as well as to help me with my university course.”

Nineteen year old Sian has been accepted for a degree course at Harper Adams University. Sian takes a keen interest in the family beef and sheep organic farm where they breed pedigree Limousin cattle and pedigree Polled Dorset and Lleyn sheep. She also works part-time milking cattle on a neighbouring dairy farm.

Also benefiting from the scholarship is Aled Thomas, from Llanwrda in Carmarthenshire, who receives £300 towards a two week trip to Canada as part of the Wales YFC International Programme to visit some cattle ranches and attend the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair in Toronto.

Laura Howell from Oxwich Green, near the Gower, receives £250 towards a three week trip to the USA where she will spend time with host families in Illinois.

Rhys Davies from Llanegryn, near Tywyn in Gwynedd receives £200 towards the costs of a three month trip to New Zealand, where he will join a sheep shearing gang. Also receiving £200 is Cairan Pritchard from Brynteg, on Anglesey towards the costs of a 12-month work placement on a dairy farm in New Zealand as part of his degree course in agriculture.

Elin Jones from Aberystwyth, and Megan Lewis, who hails from Llanfihangel-y-Creuddyn near Aberystwyth, receive £150 each towards the costs of a two week trip to Patagonia in October. Both are keen to learn more about the relationship between agriculture and the Welsh language in Patagonia and how that compares to the situation in Wales.