Jerman Scholarships for three Welsh students

Posted 18 February 2016

Three Harper Adams University students are this year benefiting a bequest to the university left by late Mid Wales couple, Joy and Delwyn Jerman, who chose to sponsor scholarships. 

Scholar Alex Robinson, 23, an Agriculture with Mechanisation degree student, from Narberth, Pembrokeshire, said: “After reading about the work Mr and Mrs Jerman undertook to help young people in agriculture and with the Young Farmers movement, it is a privilege to be awarded a scholarship in their memory.

“Getting involved in farming is something which I have considered, but due to not coming from a family farm, entering the industry as a producer is difficult. The scholarship will hopefully help me step onto the ladder of starting my own business; after I’ve been travelling and experienced a harvest in New Zealand!

“I hope that I can make a positive impact on the farming community, in whatever career path I ultimately follow.”

Scholar Ellen Humphrey, 23, is a second year BSc (Hons) Countryside & Environmental Management student, from Ffarmers, Dyfed.

She said: “I applied for scholarships as I felt the financial support would enable me to gain essential agricultural experience and knowledge that I cannot get through my degree.

“It is an honour to have been chosen to receive the Jerman Scholarship. It means a lot to me as a few years ago I didn’t think I was good enough to go to university let alone be awarded a scholarship.

“It’s wonderful to now be able to share this achievement with my friends and family who have always encouraged and supported me.”

Next year Ellen will be heading off on placement, hopefully with an agricultural and environmental consultancy company.

 “I hope to pursue a career where I can contribute towards improving the environmental sustainability of agriculture. I believe that the health of the environment and the prosperity of farming are dependent on one another and would like to work towards bridging the gap between the two sectors,” added Ellen, who was raised on a hill farm in Rhandirmwyn, Carmarthenshire but now lives in Ffarmers.

The third Jerman scholar is Llifon Davies, 20, from Meidrim, Carmarthen. The second-year BSC Agriculture with Farm Business Management student said: “I am delighted to have been awarded the Jerman scholarship. I am grateful to the development trust for giving me this award, and I am confident it will allow me to further enhance my education. The development trust does a lot within Harper Adams University by funding new facilities, and I am grateful for their extra support.

“I plan to put the funds towards land-based skills courses such as trailer test and telehandler test. I also thought it would help me be able to go on trips or courses to help me further my knowledge and understanding of the agriculture sector. 

“My ambitions are to gain experience of a mixed farm on my placement year so that I have a broad knowledge of the agriculture industry, having been raised on a beef farm. Hopefully this will allow me to gain the skills to be able to run a farm and be a successful farm manager. From this experience I hope to work for a consultancy firm and be able to advise and help farmers and businesses be successful.”