NFU Cymru’s Deputy President, Abi Reader, has been awarded the ‘Farming Hero: Flying the Flag for British Agriculture’ award at the British Farming Awards.

This prestigious award, by the Farmers Guardian, honours champions of the farming industry and celebrates those who go over and above to spearhead change or promote the industry to the wider public.

Abi Reader is already an MBE, Wales Woman Farmer of the Year and only last week was awarded the Royal Agricultural University’s (RAU) inaugural Alumnus of the Year award.

She works tirelessly to promote food and farming, whether that’s through engaging with politicians and stakeholders or speaking with various media outlets and posting on her popular social media channels – her voice and passion for food and farming reaches far and wide.

She is especially passionate about educating the next generation and has co-founded the Cows on Tour initiative - a roadshow that visits schools, shows and events to tell the food and farming story. As well as this, Abi hosts countless farm open days and regularly hosts school and university visits to her farm.

This year, Ms Reader was instrumental in organising a poignant and silent display of 5,500 pairs of wellies on the steps of the Senedd on a mist March morning, which brought to life the enormity of job losses and the impact on Welsh farming families if current Sustainable Farming Scheme (SFS) proposals were to come into effect.

NFU Cymru Director, John Mercer said: “Abi is truly inspirational, and you can’t help but feel motivated and inspired in her presence. Her passion for the industry is unrivalled and you know that when she gets an idea in her head, she’ll see it through to completion with boundless energy.

“Abi has a unique ability to transfer complex information into easy-to-understand soundbites, which is evidenced in her multiple media interviews and when talking to members of the public, or school children.

“Abi is a very worthy winner of this award and we at NFU Cymru, including staff and members, are extremely fortunate to have her knowledge, wisdom and passion for the industry.”

Upon receiving the award, Abi said: “I am truly honoured to receive this award tonight. Our industry is full of farming advocates who are all doing their bit to fly the flag of British agriculture.

“Many challenges lie ahead, and farmers are well placed to provide the future the country wants for sustainable food produced in a climate friendly way. The right support structures from government, combined with farming's 'can-do' attitude, can deliver this and more. Now is the time to harness British Farming's ambition for the future.”

Previous winners of this award include Jeremy Clarkson and Kaleb Cooper from Amazon’s hit show Clarkson’s Farm, as well as the Nicholson family from Cannon Hall Farm, who star in Channel 5’s A Yorkshire Farm.