Farmer Gwynne Owen has experienced the highs and lows of helping to organise annual shows in the old county of Montgomeryshire.
Saturday, August 15 will see a definite high when he becomes president of Llanfyllin Show, a post he considers to be a great honour and privilege. Gwynne, who lives at Glanbrogan Farm, Llanfechain, with his wife, Janet, recently hosted 250 guests at a hugely successful president’s lunch at his farm.
He has been involved with the show for around 35 years and served as chairman for two years from 2001, when the event had to be cancelled due to the outbreak of foot and mouth disease in the UK.
“There was nothing much we could do that year because of animal movement restrictions, some of which still exist today,” he said. “We put a marquee up on the farm and got everybody together to keep things going, even though we didn’t have a show.
“People work very hard to organise the show and we are very lucky to have such strong community spirit here. I feel very proud and it’s a great privilege to be asked to be show president this year.
“The show is important because it brings the whole community together and is a great social event, as well as a fantastic family day out.”
Gwynne has been a great servant to the local communities, having previously served as chairman and president of Llanfechain Show and chaired Llanfechain Village Hall Committee. He also served on the committee of the former Montgomeryshire County Show in Welshpool.
His wife was Llanfyllin Show horse section secretary for several years and shares her husband’s passion for horses. In fact, they first met on the show circuit.
The couple’s youngest daughter, Zara, has inherited the same love of horses and now runs an equestrian business alongside the 120-acre grassland and arable farm.
Having qualified for the Horse of the Year Show for six consecutive years, Zara has recently won the Royal Highland Show championship with her hunter.
Gwynne moved to Llanfechain from his family home at Upper Garth, Newtown in 1971 and ran a dairy enterprise until 10 years ago. In addition to Zara, he and his wife have another daughter, Sian, son Andrew and three granddaughters.
Known as the “friendly show” because of the warm welcome that always awaits visitors, Llanfyllin Show is held at Bodfach Park, by permission of Simon and Maggie Baynes and Janet Jones.
Highlights this year include a world record breaking stunt motorcycle team, James Dylan’s Stuntworld and the All Wales Circuit Shearing Final, which brings together the 20 best sheep shearers in Wales in four different classes.
There’s also showjumping, a donkey derby, a display by Montgomeryshire Vintage Club, a Village Green area, where a full programme of family entertainment, sheepdog trials, a demonstration by Llanfyllin skateboarding group and a fashion show by Jems Dress Agency of Oswestry.
The closing date for entries is August 6. For more information contact show secretary Jill Hollinshead on 01691 828628 or visit the show’s website at www.llanfyllinshow.co.uk.
