Two ambitious young farmers have been named as NFU Cymru representatives on the NFU’s new Student & Young Farmer ambassadors 2024 cohort.

Naomi Williams-Roberts and Ben Chilman fought off a number of quality candidates to gain a position on the industry’s coveted programme which will see them attend events at parliament, learn more about the industry from peers and undertake training days.

A livestock farmer born and bred in the South Wales Valleys, 30-year-old Naomi Williams-Roberts established her farm in Usk in 2018 with her partner and specialises in marketing and improving breeds on her farm.

Ben Chilman, 23, is a full-time poultry farmer based on the family’s mixed farm on the England/Wales border. Ben is a member of Presteigne YFC, a podcaster and has already championed agriculture on a range of topics in a number of broadcast interviews.

With a forthcoming UK General Election and an ongoing need to keep food and farming front of mind amid a busy political and media agenda, the Student & Young Farmer ambassadors will play a vital role in telling the story and value of British farming to the public.

NFU President Aled Jones said: “I’d like to offer my congratulations to Naomi and Ben for being selected for the NFU’s Student & Young Farmer Ambassador programme. It is absolutely fantastic to have such vibrant and enthusiastic people wanting to work with the NFU and NFU Cymru to help us tell our positive farming story to the public, opinion formers and politicians.

“Farming is undergoing huge change, from significant changes in farm policy and support, inflationary costs of production impacting farm businesses, to the impacts of climate change and more regular adverse weather events, so it’s arguably never been a more important time to be able to tell the positive story of agriculture and showcase the massive show of support we are so fortunate to have from the public.

“I’m thoroughly looking forward to working with both and it is remarkable to see how much they have already achieved despite their tender years. I can’t wait to see what impact they have in the coming year.”