WITH farming families and rural communities integral to shaping the natural environment of Wales whilst also contributing to local culture and the economy it’s often all too easy to believe everything in the countryside must be rosy. But the economic pressures, anxieties and possible isolation affecting farming families have been recognised locally as needing some easily accessible support.
Like minded individuals set up Monmouthshire Rural Support Centre, which is now based at Raglan Livestock Market, after an initial launch of MRSC at Usk Agricultural Show in 2021.
This year the Monmouthshire Rural Support Centre (MRSC) were delighted to be chosen by Llangynidr Show to be one of their charities to support, so on August Bank Holiday Sunday, MRSC took their Outreach Display Tent and set up a stall at their Show.
Although the weather was a little damp & windy, the MRSC Volunteers had a great day talking to locals and visitors to the beautiful site, which fully celebrated a variety of activities/classes which showcased agriculture and rural life.
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Bob Stevenson, Project Lead of MRSC was thrilled to be invited to officially Open the Show in the Main Ring, and along with Project Coordinator Shirley Hughes, judged the Best Trade Stand and Best Farmers Market stall, along with Best Scarecrow!
On Wednesday 16th October, 6 members of the Show Committee paid a surprise visit to MRSC at the Livestock Market and presented a cheque as their donation from their event to MRSC.
Brian Cope, Llangynidr Show chairman, said "We were extremely pleased to host Monmouthshire Rural Support Centre at our show this year and to make a donation from the show proceeds. Farming is at the heart of our show, and our community. The services that MRSC provide to farmers across the area are hugely important, particularly now with all the many pressures in the industry, so it is a privilege for us to be able to contribute to their work in this way".
"We were very pleased to welcome the guys from the Show Committee and their very generous donation will help us continue to support the rural communities of Monmouthshire and surrounding counties;” said Project Coordinator Shirley Hughes.