One of the vital prestigious prizes in Welsh agriculture, the John Gittins Memorial Award for excellent contributions to the Welsh sheep trade, has been gained this 12 months by Mr Lionel Organ, from Llandysul, Carmarthenshire.
Mr Organ has farmed at Tymaen Farm for the previous 25 years, located simply north of Carmarthen. He ran a big Charollais flock of 450 ewes for 30 years, and now continues along with his Lleyn flock of 200 ewes from 1985. His preliminary plan was to advertise the 2 breeds of sheep in Wales by displaying at the Royal Welsh Present and lots of smaller one-day reveals. With the Charollais breed being signet recorded, he deliberate to carry common manufacturing gross sales for the Charollais on-farm in a purpose-built sheep shed. He has at all times strived to supply a Charollais breed sheep fitted to the business in addition to the pedigree breeder, and a breed that’s greater than able to thriving within the Welsh local weather.
In 2000, Mr Organ held his first on-farm feminine productive sale, aimed on the pedigree breeder, and continued with biannual gross sales up till the dispersal gross sales in 2009 and 2010, with consumers from all corners of the British Isles. Mr Organ has at all times harassed how vital displaying as a store window for breeders has helped with displaying his finest produce, particularly at the Royal Welsh Present. Mr Organ has gained many competitions, together with a number of Champions at the Royal Welsh Present and his breeding has gone on to win on the Royal Highland Present and on the Nice Yorkshire Present.
Because the dispersal of the Charollais flock, he has targeted on his breeding abilities on perfecting a modern-type Lleyn, choosing for tights skins, size and improved conformation, in a position to rear two lambs with their mixed weight equal to/or heavier than their mom at 12 weeks of age totally off grass (75/80kg). Mr Organ continues to advertise the breeds by sharing his wealth of recommendation and expertise with faculty college students and new breeders.
Mr Organ has many memorable achievements, to call a number of – having judged Charollais sheep at each Royal Present within the UK (twice on the Royal Welsh), judged the Lleyn breed on the 2003 Royal Welsh Present and in 2011, and was honoured to evaluate the Interbreed Pairs, once more at the Royal Welsh Present.
Mr Alwyn Rees, representing the Royal Welsh Agricultural Society, Mr Richard Thomas, from the Welsh Mule Sheepbreeders Affiliation and Ms Kate Hovers, from the Nationwide Sheep Affiliation Wales made up the panel of judges for the Award.
The judges acknowledged that the standard of candidates this 12 months was, as soon as once more, excellent. After interviewing a shortlist of three spectacular candidates, the judges agreed that the John Gittins Memorial Award must be awarded to Mr Lionel Organ in recognition of his lifetime contribution to the Welsh Sheep Business.
Mr Organ shall be introduced with the award on the opening ceremony of the Royal Welsh Winter Truthful on Monday twenty eighth November.
For extra details about the Winter Truthful, or to buy tickets please go to the RWAS web site.
