Three beef farmers have been shortlisted for the Sir Bryner Jones Memorial Award, Royal Welsh Agricultural Society’s (RWAS) flagship accolade, which attracted exceptional entries from the 10 counties of Wales.

 The winner will be announced Royal Welsh Show on Monday, the first day of the four-day event at Llanelwedd. Focused on the Welsh beef industry this year, the award will be presented to a farmer or farming business that has made an outstanding contribution.

 It’s 30 years since the beef industry last featured and it’s only the sixth time the sector has been highlighted since the award started in 1957.  

The judges, David Lewis and Clive Roads, visited each of the applicants in May and were very impressed, saying they were a credit to the industry.

 “We felt our task to be an immense challenge,” said the judges. “Whilst each individual entry could possibly justify a place in our eventual shortlist, their diverse nature made comparisons extremely difficult.”

 The finalists are: Gwyn Edwards of Pencraig Fawr, Betws Gwerfyl Goch, near Corwen; Dylan Jones, Castellior, Menai Bridge and Philip Jones, Lan Farm, Cynwyl Elfed, Carmarthen.

 Mr Edwards farms with his wife, Lynn and sons, Dion and Cai. The family has won the coveted Overall Supreme Championship at the Royal Welsh Winter Fair three times.

 The breeding policy, management and quality of cattle produced on the upland farm impressed the judges. The family shows cattle at local and national shows across the UK and has used Continental sires since the 1970s.

 Dylan Jones has been working with Bangor University, Farming Connect and ABS Prism 2030 in preparation for the anticipated market of the future. He has been recognised with national awards linked to his progress within the beef sector.

 The farm finishes 1,600 head of cattle annually on a self-sufficient, low carbon system, balancing innovation and environmental responsibilities for a sustainable, profitable beef enterprise.

 Philip Jones has developed a profitable, efficient and easily managed 120-cow suckler herd, producing store calves for sale. His emphasis is on building sustainable practices into an organic system.

 The herd pioneered the use of collars to identify bulling animals for AI. A Farming Connect programme demonstration farm, Lan Farm has collected data for the last two years for a project to reduce the spread of antimicrobial resistance on Welsh farms.

 The winner will be announced on Monday, first day of the show, at 2.30pm. The winner’s medal is sponsored by Gareth Roberts, RWAS Board member.

Sir Bryner Jones helped shape the direction of the RWAS for 50 years, was Agricultural Commissioner for Wales, Welsh Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture and Royal Welsh Show president in 1954.