The event, which was organised as part of the school’s ‘shwmae day’, saw NFU Cymru organise a series of lessons and workshops that aimed to dispel myths about farming and highlight the good work farmers are doing to help combat climate change.
A variety of lessons
As well as the classes put on by NFU Cymru staff and members, the union also helped to organise lessons on interview techniques with Hannah Thomas, ITV Wales Rural Affairs Correspondent, a politics session with James Evans MS, a careers discussion with a farmer and Sunderlands auctioneer Matthew Nicholls, along with a mental health discussion with the DPJ Foundation.
NFU Cymru Brecon & Radnor County Chair Sharon Hammond said: “I’m pleased that we could organise such an important event with Gwernyfed High School. While it’s a largely rural school, we were able to create lessons around myth-busting and sustainability to educate and equip pupils with the facts around Welsh farming and why it’s so important to Wales.
Net zero
“In each 30-minute session, pupils were asked to discuss what sustainability meant to them and shown what practices farmers were putting in place to achieve net zero by 2040. In order to dispel the myths about farming, pupils were also asked to create an Instagram reel explaining why a certain myth was in fact false.
We're spreading the Welsh farming message to pupils at Gwernyfed High School today. pic.twitter.com/atC2x7cX9h
— NFU Cymru 🚜 (@NFUCymru) October 10, 2022
“It’s so important to teach the next generation about where their food comes from and how they can make good food choices for the climate. Welsh red meat and dairy are among the most sustainable foods in the world and we hope that our lessons at this event will have highlighted the importance of buying local and buying Welsh.
Welsh food on the dinner menu
“To top off the day, we also worked with Powys County Council to ensure the children had Welsh produce at dinner time. Children were offered Welsh sausages with potatoes, carrots and gravy, along with Welsh cream on their apple crumble.”
The event coincided with the beginning of Countryside COP, which is an opportunity to showcase the contribution the farming industry is already making to help increase biodiversity, use clean energy and capture carbon in the atmosphere and to identify where more can be done.
A message from the school
Ruth Lloyd, Welsh Co-ordinator for Ysgol Uwchradd Gwernyfed, said: “Pupils and staff invited Abi Reader and Stella Owen, as well as other members from NFU Cymru, to join them in a day that celebrates Wales, Welshness and produce from Wales which are all so important in developing a strong Welsh identity. The whole experience from beginning to end was magnificent, pupils enjoyed meeting people who work in other careers in rural Wales which gave them a much wider horizon when considering work opportunities in rural communities, as well as the importance of further and higher education.
Myth-busting
“They enjoyed the myth busting sessions and felt that they were better equipped to have conversations with people about rural life and agriculture. The interview technique sessions with ITV Wales’ Hannah Thomas were a great hit and a super boost for their confidence.
“All of the pupils enjoyed their activities with such a wide range of people from farming and the wider world of agriculture, discussing various perspectives about subjects that are important to them, especially global warming and sustainability. It was interesting to hear that one of the most popular sessions had been a workshop on mental health and wellbeing with the DPJ Foundation.
“It truly was a day to remember, an experience that our pupils can’t wait to repeat, they are already asking staff to book everyone in again.”