For 22-year-old Ioan Evans was the winner of the first prize in a competition run by the S4C farming and countryside programme, Ffermio, in conjunction with Ifor Williams Trailers, Europe’s leading firm of trailer manufacturers.

The competition was launched at the Anglesey Show in August and ran throughout the series until November, and the three winners were presented with their magnificent trailers at the Winter Fair in Llanelwedd.

Ioan lives with his parents at Fferm Brynglas, Llanfair Caereinion, which has been in the family for generations, but works as a builder while gradually building up the farming business.

"I started off with about 35 acres and now we’re up to about 150," he said. "We have about 120 Texels and are building it up to 300."

"I happened to see the first programme in which the competition was featured and thought I would have a go because we really need a new stock trailer," said Ioan.

"I’ve never entered a competition like this before and couldn’t believe it when they called to say I had won, especially as I believe they had thousands of entries."

"I had to ask for time off work to go to the show but because I had won my boss was happy to let me have it," he added.

Ioan’s prize was a top-of-the range HB506 horsebox, but Iorwerth Roberts, head of sales for Ifor Williams Trailers in North Wales, said they were prepared to discuss the possibility of swapping it for a livestock trailer up to the same value.

An Anglesey farmer, Emyr Williams, is also the owner of a brand new trailer – thanks to his mother and father.

It was actually Emyr’s mother Margaret Williams who decided they should have a go and it was her husband Gwyn who eventually submitted the entry on-line - and without telling her, he did so in her name. "I’ve never entered any competitions before except local things like raffles," said Margaret, whose family has lived at Ty’n Coed, Ty Croes, for generations.

"I couldn’t believe it when they called to say we had won," said Margaret. "It’s a huge surprise and a lovely early Christmas present."

The TA5 livestock trailer, worth £2,675, was the second prize in the competition and the third prize of a P8E trailer with ramp and prop stands worth £865 went to Eirwen Fish of Glanamman.

Elin Rhys Managing Director of Telesgop, the production company responsible for the popular Ffermio series, said that they are very grateful to Ifor Williams Trailers for their continued support to the series.

She said: " Ffermio is unique. We keep farming and rural life at the heart of our storytelling but appeal to viewers in towns and cities too. The Ffermio competition is very valuable to us, with viewers far and wide tuning in, in the hope of getting their hands on the trailers! The trailers are part and parcel of country life, visible everywhere you go. Ifor Williams’ longstanding reputation for high quality manufacturing is the reason why we seek their support every year."

"The winners appreciate the quality of the trailers, be they farmers, small holders, or horse owners. It is a very special time for Telesgop’s Ffermio team, to see the excellent prizes going once more to very worthy winners. "

Iorwerth Roberts, the company’s head of sales in North Wales, who presented the trailer to Ioan at the showground, said they were proud to be associated with Ffermio and that the faith in their product was clearly demonstrated in the response to the competition.

"It is an indication that our trailers are in great demand," he added.

Arwel Ellis Owen, the Chief Executive of S4C, said: "The annual Ffermio competition captures the imagination of viewers every year.

"It reflects the popularity of Ffermio as a series that is at the heart of the S4C schedule and the response to the competition was fantastic again this year.

"We would like to thank Ifor Williams Trailers for providing the prizes and to Telesgop, who produce the series, for organising the competition."

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