A FATHER AND SON from Gwynedd scooped the Marks & Spencer 'Farming for the Future' award during a presentation at the Royal Welsh Show.

Aled and Osian Jones, who run Hendy Farm in Caenarfon, scooped the prize which, according to sponsor - Prince's Countryside Fund - is given to producers that are 'building sustainability for future generations'.

The hard-working pair manage a growing herd of pedigree Holsteins, with the numbers increasing from 320 to 400 cows in the last three years.

The Jones family has been farming for nine generations and started milking cows at Hendy Farm in 1963.

In 2017, Aled and Osian made the decision to invest in a rotary parlour to allow for future herd growth and development of the dairy business.

As part of the new build, the family invested in technology to ensure that even with expansion, high standards continue to be maintained and the comfort of the cows is maximised.

Nick Bell, who oversees cow health on M&S dairy farms and nominated the pair for the award, credited Aled and Osian’s creative thinking and industry knowledge with the success of their business’ expansion. “Osian and Aled researched and came up with some innovative ideas, particularly for handling systems for fetching and returning cows,” he said.

“Aled and Osian are very worthy winners, impressing our judging team with their use of technologies to support the day to day management of the farm, together with carefully planned investment and a focus on building resilience into the business for future generations.”