The Farmers' Union of Wales recognised Rhys Beynon-Thomas for his services to agriculture at the Royal Welsh Show.

Rhys Beynon-Thomas is an experienced vet who returned to Wales in 2014 to work as a vet specialising in farm animals in Carmarthenshire alongside farming part time on the family farm at Hendy, Swansea. He is by now a Director at Prostock Vets.

Speaking at the awards presentation, FUW President Ian Rickman said: "Rhys has been an advocate and a voice for farmers during one of the most distressing periods that the sector has endured.

“His heartfelt but very effective speeches at the “Digon yw Digon” protests in Carmarthen and Cardiff captured the horror and distress of bovineTB on farming families. His commentary was harrowing and his bravery in being willing to stand up and tell the story from a vet’s perspective was inspiring.”

Rhys said: “It’s a great honour to accept this award from the FUW. I feel that it is my duty as a scientist and a farm vet to discuss the facts surrounding bovine TB in Wales. For too long policy has been dictated by politics and not by science. Gwyddoniaeth nid Gwleidyddiaeth (Science not politics).”