RWAS17: David Lloyd Rees wins Royal Welsh Scholarship

Posted 26 July 2017

TUESDAY - Agriculture student David Lloyd Rees was presented with the Royal Welsh Agricultural Society Scholarship during the presentation of awards and prizes at the Council Enclosure.

The RWAS Scholarship, in association with Waitrose, is open to candidates whose parents have been resident in Wales for five years, and the student must have taken a diploma or foundation degree at an agricultural college in England, Scotland or Wales and want to progress to degree level.

David, 21, from Maesteg, Bridgend, has finished the FdSc Agriculture degree at Harper Adams and will commence the one-year course to top up to a Bachelor’s degree in September.

With the award being sponsored by Waitrose, Harper Adams alumna and Governor Heather Jenkins, Director of Buying at Waitrose, had the pleasure of presenting the scholarship to David.

"The RWAS Scholarship is an ideal opportunity for me. I wanted to study agriculture for years, both to improve my knowledge and skills, and to develop me as a person.

"I attend the Royal Welsh Show every year and am immensely proud that such a prestigious show takes place in my home country and I am honoured and grateful that the Agricultural Society and Waitrose are generously helping me to realise my ambition."

David is a very active member of Bridgend Young Farmers. He explains: "I have been a member for five years. Speaking competitions have made me a competent public speaker and improved my confidence. Stock judging competitions have made me a batter stockman. I have represented my county, and even Wales, in competitions including public speaking, debating, tug of war and stock judging."

David's successes at club level saw him win the Best Junior Member Cup at Bridgend for three years running and for Glamorgan on two occasions.

David graduates with his foundation degree in September, having completed two years on study at Harper Adams, and a sandwich placement year at Heaton Hall Farm, Morecambe, Lancashire, and will return to Shropshire to complete the degree top up programme over the 2017-18 academic year.