"Hello! My name is Aled Jones and I hail from Builth Wells. (What a place to live during show week). The town really buzzes in the run up to the Show and you can already feel the build up and anticipation to what is one of the greatest social events of the farming calendar.
I am a member of Troedrhiwdalar Young Farmers Club in the hills of Llanafan and I am currently Brecknock's Junior Member of the Year and Chair of the Youth Forum. I also enjoy being active within Wales YFC and this year I was honoured to be selected as the Wales Junior Member of the Year.
My first visit to the Royal Welsh was at the age of eight months (I must admit I can't remember much about that one) and I have been every year since. I am very lucky to live in close proximity to the Showground so not being the camping type, I am glad I can crawl into my own bed after enjoying the sights and sounds of the Show. Perhaps I miss out on the camping experience though by not having to rough it out in the beautiful countryside that surrounds the Showground.
The modern Royal Welsh today attracts more than 200,000 visitors including ambassadors from overseas and sometimes the Royal Family pop in. With everyone relaxing and enjoying the whole show experience the local economy soars with a massive influx of people here to sample the best Wales can offer.
The Show is an important week for the YFC. Competitions organised by the Young Farmers Movement are keenly contested involving hundreds of eager members. They participate in flower arranging, tug of war, dancing, stockjudging and rugby, just to name a few, which adds much appeal and colour to show week. This Section has veritably become 'a show within a show'. Although I will be supporting my home county Brecknock, I will enjoy meeting all the members I have been fortunate to get to know through competing and my involvement with Wales YFC and I wish everyone who competes all the very best and most importantly enjoy yourselves.
There is a variety of entertainment on the YFC stage so I would definitely recommend a visit to the YFC enclosure. You can spend some time going around the booths in the area and looking at what opportunities YFC has to offer. Please pay particular attention to the fences, I painted them last week!
To end each busy day, YFC members and others who enjoy music will head to the Young People's Village. This is another vibrant event in the YFC calendar and attracts big names such as Goldie Lookin Chain and Radio 1 DJ Dave Pearce. With four nights of fantastic entertainment, it is a must for all young people who visit the Royal Welsh Show.
This will be a busy week for all the YFC Officers and competitors, but I am looking forward to the challenge and will bring you an update during Show week. Hopefully, we will all have a really good time and let's keep our fingers crossed that the sun will shine!"
Report by Aled. R. Jones - Wales YFC Junior Member of the Year
