Celebrating community at the Royal Welsh Show
On Monday 21st July, the RCF team attended the Marks and Spencer Select Farm Awards, where Keith Halstead presented the Royal Countryside Fund Family Farm Award to the Roderick Family, from Brecon. The award, which is run by the RCF’s longstanding partner, M&S, celebrates family farms that show an exceptional commitment to good animal welfare, sustainable practices and future generations — all while helping keep rural communities thriving.
At Newton Farm, Richard Roderick and his family (with son Tudor pictured above) run two well-managed sheep flocks and a 100-head Stabiliser suckler herd, supplying beef and lamb to M&S through Dunbia. The Rodericks stand out for their hands-on approach to animal care, thoughtful breeding choices, and the calm, well-handled livestock they raise in the heart of rural Wales.
Importantly, the Roderick story is about succession done right: Richard’s son Tudor is now fully involved in day-to-day flock management — proving that when family farms thrive, so do rural jobs, skills and communities.
Richard Roderick said: “For us, it’s simple — if you look after your animals and your land properly, they look after you in return. We’re proud to keep that approach alive as a family and it means a lot to have it recognised by M&S and the Royal Countryside Fund.”
Keith Halstead, Executive Director, The Royal Countryside Fund, said: “We’re delighted to see the Roderick family recognised with this award. They’re leading a way of farming that puts careful stewardship at its heart whilst inspiring confidence in the next generation, which reflects the very vision and hope we have at The Royal Countryside Fund for thriving family farms.
“As we celebrate our 15th anniversary, we’re also incredibly grateful to M&S, which has supported our charity since 2010, demonstrating their continuing commitment to our partnership and to the resilience of Britain’s farming families.”
Steve McLean, Head of Agriculture and Fisheries at M&S, said: “The Roderick family are exactly what British farming is all about: skilled, dedicated and deeply rooted in their community. They care for their animals the right way, they think long-term, and they’re passing that knowledge on to the next generation — which is vital for the future of UK food and farming.”
At the show, the RCF team caught up with old contacts and made new ones, as they spoke with a wide range of individuals and organisations who work to support rural and farming communities across Wales.
We also spoke with successful rural community organisations, which we have previously funded, including Black Mountains College and The National Hedgelaying Society – the charity dedicated to promoting and preserving the traditional craft of hedgelaying.
As always, the Royal Welsh Show provided a valuable opportunity to hear directly from Welsh farmers about their concerns and hopes for the future. We also spoke with a wide range of farm support organisations, including Tir Dewi and Monmouthshire Rural Support Centre, as well as the teams from NFU Mutual, FUW, RABI, Yellow Wellies, The Farming Community Network, and the Nature Friendly Farming Network.
The RCF team would like to extend their heartfelt thanks to everyone who gave us such a warm welcome at the show.
