Visionary hosts draw crowds at NSA Welsh Sheep
A resounding success and much needed boost for morale summed up NSA Welsh Sheep Event 2025, held on the outskirts of Hay on Wye yesterday (Wednesday 21st May). Host farm, Tregoyd farm, is home to High Country Romneys and farmed by Penny Chantler with her sons, Sam and Will Sawday.
The event drew visitors from across the UK as well as several international visitors and provided inspiration for thousands of sheep farmers. They learned a little, did business, relished the latest innovations and couldn’t fail to be impressed by the business model on display by High Country Romneys during the popular farm tour. It was also a much needed opportunity for farmers to get together in the early Summer sunshine, with the site refreshed after a night’s rain.
NSA Cymru / Wales Chair Caryl Hughes paid tribute to the vision of landowner, Huw Evans-Bevan. She said he was determined to futureproof the Tregoyd Estate and make it ready to meet the demands of the 21st century. The 5,000 acre (2025ha) estate comprises woodland, moorland and farmland, with a mix of shooting, farming and conservation, as well as holiday accommodation.
Caryl summed up the event: “It’s been a successful, innovative, informative and all round fantastic day. We had some great speakers and listening to the hosts discuss their future plans has really given us a boost, as well as hope for the future of our industry.
“There were great entries in the Next Generation Shepherd of the Year Competition and it’s been great to see so many young schoolchildren here as well as students. My take home message is that even though there is a lot of uncertainty in our industry, after a day like today I feel there is still a lot of positivity and an interesting future ahead.”
Children from local schools also attended the event, in a joint initiative with Powys County Council and Castell Howell Foods. The children unanimously praised the event as the ‘best school trip ever’ as they enjoyed all attractions and took part in cookery of delicious Welsh lamb.
Tregoyd Estate owner Huw Evans-Bevan welcomed visitors to the spectacular setting, with the backdrop of Hay Bluff an example of the stunning beauty of rural Wales, sculpted and preserved by the enduring resilience, innovation and excellence of Welsh farmers.
Huw praised High Country Romneys saying: “Penny, Sam and Will have brought vision, energy and fresh thinking to the heart of Tregoyd.
“Together they have developed an intellectual approach to sheep farming that is sustainable, environmentally respectful, yet practical. They have worked tirelessly on the development of their High Country Romney flock.
“They are flourishing as a breed and rightly so, bred for resilience, maternal ability and efficiency off grass, the breed is an ideal match for the diverse landscapes of the UK and especially the conditions we know so well here in Wales. It is exactly the kind of forward thinking we want to support here at Tregoyd.
“This approach is a progressive trend in the industry, one that values genetics and data along with a regenerative grazing system and the essential grit and hard graft farming requires.”
The host farmers were delighted with the ‘superb’ day. Will Sawday said they had loved having so many people at the farm, to celebrate the best of the sheep industry. The whole process had also helped to raise the profile of High Country Romneys and had been well worth the time and effort.
A final highlight of the event was the presentation of the NSA Cymru / Wales Next Generation Shepherd competition, sponsored by the Texel Sheep Society. Taking first place was Evan Turner who also took the award for the highest placed competitor aged under 21. Evan will now go on alongside second place competitor Mared Edwards to represent Wales in the national final of the competition that takes place next year at NSA Sheep Event 2026.
Competition results:
Best Trade Stand Competition
Sheep Breed Society
1st Texel
2nd Suffolk
3rd Lleyn and Badger Face
Indoor Trade Stands
1st British Wool
2nd NHS
3rd Farming Connect
Outdoor Trade Stands
1st Wynnstay
2nd`SJ Conveyors
3rd J & C Griffiths
Wool On The Hoof
1st Texel
2nd`Rough Fell
3rd North Country Cheviots
Welsh NSA Next Generation Young Shepherd of the Year Competition - Sponsored by the British Texel Sheep Society
1st Evan Turner
2nd Mared Edwards
3rd Elin Kitty Hughes
4th Charlotte Griffiths
5th Morgan Edwards Jones
6th Rhys Pinder
Highest placed under 21 - Evan Turner
