AN enthusiastic young shepherd from id Wales has won a National Sheep Association prize giveaway.

Siony Rudd from Maesgarthbeibio Farm, Llanfair Caereinion, was selected at random having registered for the prize draw to win one tonne of sheep Rumevite forage supplement blocks as part of the NSA October 'Feeding the Flock' webinar series. The prize was donated by webinar sponsor Rumenco.

Siony commented: “With a starter flock of Welsh mountain ewes, we were thrilled to receive the prize of one tonne of Rumevite 14-inch feed blocks. It will help to maintain our ewe’s condition throughout the winter – this will be essential as they spend it on rough upland grazing that we currently farm.”

As an enthusiastic and entrepreneurial young farmer, Siony recognises the importance of exploring all options for her business, developing a small wool business during the first Covid-19 lockdown alongside her twin sister and it was this new fledgling business that was her reason for joining the NSA and British Wool webinar in October.

She continued: “We were interested in British Wool and joined the NSA webinar on the ‘Current wool market situation and British Wool’s consumer focussed marketing strategy’. It was interesting to be presented with the facts and figures on wool and understand how wool is an underused and seriously undervalued product.

“Our new business Wool and Raddle was set up in response to the poor wool prices this year due to the Covid-19 pandemic. We are exploring options for our wool and documenting our creative journey on Instagram @woolandraddle”.

The October webinar series included a range of sessions delivering advice for sheep farmers planning their feeding regimes as well as other industry updates. All webinars from the series are still available to watch again at nationalsheep.org.uk/webinars.