Episode 4

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0:00:02 > 0:00:05Hidden away in the Gwendraeth Valley, West Wales,

0:00:05 > 0:00:08is a family business like no other.

0:00:08 > 0:00:11In the last count, I'm sure it was 18 family members working here.

0:00:11 > 0:00:14They are the fruit and veg mafia of Gorslas.

0:00:14 > 0:00:17HE LAUGHS

0:00:17 > 0:00:19There's me, I'm Roland.

0:00:19 > 0:00:21There's Stuart, Reuben,

0:00:21 > 0:00:23Tom, Davina,

0:00:23 > 0:00:25Rachel, Coral works here.

0:00:25 > 0:00:28Born a scrubber, always a scrubber!

0:00:28 > 0:00:29And then, there's Moya,

0:00:29 > 0:00:31Kim,

0:00:31 > 0:00:33Maria,

0:00:33 > 0:00:34my son, William.

0:00:34 > 0:00:37AIR GUSHES

0:00:37 > 0:00:40Down! You'll rip a hole in it.

0:00:40 > 0:00:43Stuart's son, John, is working here.

0:00:43 > 0:00:46Eh... Reuben - his son Luke is working here.

0:00:46 > 0:00:49I've got to go and kill it! What do you expect me to do?

0:00:49 > 0:00:53His daughter Marie-Alice is working here.

0:00:53 > 0:00:54Ashley,

0:00:54 > 0:00:56Nicky.

0:00:56 > 0:01:00Eh... Who else is working here? I can't think who's working here.

0:01:00 > 0:01:02Also, I've just forgot, I'd better tell you,

0:01:02 > 0:01:05my wife is working there, Gina, or I'll be in trouble!

0:01:05 > 0:01:07Don't know, I can't think of anybody else off the top of my head.

0:01:07 > 0:01:10I think I've got around a few.

0:01:10 > 0:01:11How many did you count?

0:01:20 > 0:01:22This time, on Meet The Watkins,

0:01:22 > 0:01:25the sheep flock get their annual haircut,

0:01:25 > 0:01:28birds take over the farm yard...

0:01:30 > 0:01:33..and Roland hopes for a win at the Royal Welsh.

0:01:39 > 0:01:45It's early summer and usually the busiest season for the family business.

0:01:45 > 0:01:48Cwmcerrig farm is midway between Swansea and Carmarthen.

0:01:48 > 0:01:51And the Watkins family empire is a familiar sight

0:01:51 > 0:01:55for many who travel along the A48 on their way to West Wales.

0:01:58 > 0:02:01It's shearing time and local contractor Geraint Rees and his team

0:02:01 > 0:02:04have been called to the farm for the day

0:02:04 > 0:02:07to relieve some 250 sheep of their fleeces.

0:02:08 > 0:02:10Today, it's hot,

0:02:10 > 0:02:13but it's a rare sunny day in what's been quite a miserable summer.

0:02:13 > 0:02:16And the whole farming year is behind schedule.

0:02:16 > 0:02:20It's late this year, about three weeks later than normal,

0:02:20 > 0:02:22cos the weather has been cold and wet.

0:02:22 > 0:02:25Contractors come every year. We used to have New Zealand boys come over.

0:02:25 > 0:02:28Geraint now has taken over.

0:02:28 > 0:02:34There's about 242. There's ewes to do, black-faced ewes.

0:02:35 > 0:02:36Get back, man.

0:02:38 > 0:02:42We've got pedigree Texels to do, ewes and rams.

0:02:42 > 0:02:47I've been shearing here for the last seven years, I think.

0:02:47 > 0:02:50Yes, it goes back quite a while.

0:02:50 > 0:02:54When I first started, I think they had over 500 sheep.

0:02:54 > 0:02:58They've cut back since they've opened the shop.

0:02:58 > 0:03:02Just...I think, simplifying the business.

0:03:02 > 0:03:06One thing you can guarantee with Cwmcerrig is that they're going to have big sheep.

0:03:06 > 0:03:09They're big boys, they are big sheep.

0:03:09 > 0:03:11And off they go!

0:03:11 > 0:03:17Nearly 250 sheep to shear as quickly and efficiently as possible.

0:03:19 > 0:03:21Time is money for these boys!

0:03:21 > 0:03:24I figure we can do 40 an hour.

0:03:24 > 0:03:28That's erm...we'd be going well if we do that.

0:03:28 > 0:03:31Over the course of May and June,

0:03:31 > 0:03:35that'd be 30,000 sheep on our run to do altogether,

0:03:35 > 0:03:37so it's a few hard days' work.

0:03:40 > 0:03:42These rams are worth a penny or two.

0:03:42 > 0:03:44I know he's paid a lot for some of them.

0:03:44 > 0:03:48And I think he's bred a couple of outstanding ones,

0:03:48 > 0:03:51which may be worth more than the ones he's bought.

0:03:51 > 0:03:53Yeah, you want to take care of these,

0:03:53 > 0:03:58you don't want to cut a few things off that shouldn't be cut off.

0:03:58 > 0:04:00As long as he's got all his giblets,

0:04:00 > 0:04:02at the end of it, it's all right.

0:04:08 > 0:04:11The Watkins do good business in the winter

0:04:11 > 0:04:13with the sale of Christmas turkeys.

0:04:15 > 0:04:18Today is an important day at the farm,

0:04:18 > 0:04:20as over 1,000 day-old turkey chicks arrive.

0:04:22 > 0:04:26250 by here now, in this pen, we hope.

0:04:27 > 0:04:30253 of them? Oh, 255.

0:04:30 > 0:04:34Every 200, they give you two extra, they're supposed to.

0:04:34 > 0:04:37I can't put the box down.

0:04:39 > 0:04:40Yeah.

0:04:44 > 0:04:47Within minutes of arriving,

0:04:47 > 0:04:51the next stage is to introduce them to their first feed.

0:04:51 > 0:04:53Turkey starter crumbs,

0:04:53 > 0:04:55so they get off to start.

0:04:55 > 0:04:58First time they've been fed since they hatched.

0:04:58 > 0:05:00They have all the food they can eat.

0:05:00 > 0:05:04They've got to. If they don't have all the food they can eat, they start eating each other.

0:05:04 > 0:05:08A day old and a first feel for their new home,

0:05:08 > 0:05:11though there's a slight problem with the central heating!

0:05:11 > 0:05:14Soon these are going to be warm, are they? Yeah, they're going to...

0:05:14 > 0:05:16They're pushing on the sides there.

0:05:16 > 0:05:18Lift the heat up a little bit?

0:05:18 > 0:05:20We're adjusting the heat there,

0:05:20 > 0:05:23cos the turkeys are pushing through the sides

0:05:23 > 0:05:24cos they're getting too hot.

0:05:24 > 0:05:27So we take the heat up a bit so they've got a bit less heat on them.

0:05:27 > 0:05:29Pick that up a bit more.

0:05:30 > 0:05:34They get too hot, they're going to dehydrate, aren't they?

0:05:34 > 0:05:36So what happens, they pile up

0:05:36 > 0:05:39and the ones underneath suffocate and die.

0:05:40 > 0:05:42They'll be on the heat now for about four weeks

0:05:42 > 0:05:47and then they'll come off the heat and they'll be away then.

0:05:50 > 0:05:53Stuart has quite an eye for the birds

0:05:53 > 0:05:57and has a soft spot for the peacocks and hens that frequent the farmyard.

0:05:59 > 0:06:03To his surprise, there's some new additions to the family.

0:06:03 > 0:06:05She laid three eggs

0:06:05 > 0:06:10and was sitting on them for quite a while and hatched two.

0:06:10 > 0:06:12They're are about a month old now.

0:06:12 > 0:06:16Well, she sat on the eggs on top of a big stack of hay

0:06:16 > 0:06:18about 15 feet in the air.

0:06:18 > 0:06:21After about six weeks, one morning up there,

0:06:21 > 0:06:25she was walking and beside were these two little ones.

0:06:25 > 0:06:27Two little balls of fluff.

0:06:27 > 0:06:28She'd hatched two, so I went up

0:06:28 > 0:06:32and brought the eggs that hadn't hatched with me, like.

0:06:32 > 0:06:34I doubt if it'll happen now, mind,

0:06:34 > 0:06:38but one cock's been here for about, I don't know, 12, 15 years

0:06:38 > 0:06:41and we bought these last year.

0:06:41 > 0:06:44They came, we bought them in Ffairfach.

0:06:44 > 0:06:48It was a Saturday when William got married, and Kate.

0:06:48 > 0:06:52So that's Kate and the cock who came with her is William.

0:06:52 > 0:06:55We've got our own William and Kate!

0:07:02 > 0:07:04The shearing is finished

0:07:04 > 0:07:08and the Cwmcerrig flock seem happy to be rid of their fleeces.

0:07:08 > 0:07:10It's been a tough day for the shearing team

0:07:10 > 0:07:12but it's not over yet.

0:07:14 > 0:07:17We'll be doing another bunch of...

0:07:17 > 0:07:22probably do another 200-ish for tonight, just to round the day off.

0:07:22 > 0:07:26We've got to pack as many into the day as we possibly can,

0:07:26 > 0:07:28cos like I said, we are way behind with things,

0:07:28 > 0:07:35so it's a case of catching up and we'll get there in the end.

0:07:35 > 0:07:37Yes, so, onto the next job, no?

0:07:42 > 0:07:46Agricultural shows are a big feature of the summer months.

0:07:46 > 0:07:49Not this year, though, as the weather forced many to be cancelled.

0:07:49 > 0:07:52So having missed out on the smaller shows,

0:07:52 > 0:07:56Roland is taking his pedigree Texel lambs straight to the country's biggest show,

0:07:56 > 0:07:59where he's hoping to get an elusive first prize.

0:07:59 > 0:08:01Come on, gally. Shut the gate, Flukie.

0:08:03 > 0:08:05Come on, then.

0:08:07 > 0:08:09'We went into Texels in the year 2000.

0:08:09 > 0:08:13'We went up, had a look in 2001 and decided to start showing in 2002.'

0:08:13 > 0:08:16We had a fifth prize for a ram lamb.

0:08:16 > 0:08:18That was our start

0:08:18 > 0:08:22and to date, the best we've had is second for a group of three

0:08:22 > 0:08:25and third for a yearling tup.

0:08:25 > 0:08:27That was our best so far.

0:08:27 > 0:08:30So we'll try and approve this year, but I'm not guaranteeing it.

0:08:30 > 0:08:34This year's lambing has produced some good stock

0:08:34 > 0:08:35and Roland and his brother Reuben

0:08:35 > 0:08:38have chosen the best pick of the crop for showing.

0:08:40 > 0:08:41Bit of washing.

0:08:41 > 0:08:44'We've got four Texel lambs going up tomorrow,

0:08:44 > 0:08:47'two ram lambs and two ewe lambs.

0:08:47 > 0:08:49'They'd been born middle of February

0:08:49 > 0:08:52'so what were they, four months? Four months.

0:08:52 > 0:08:54'I weighed them last Thursday.

0:08:54 > 0:08:58'They've come on well. I'm quite pleased with them. Yes.

0:08:58 > 0:09:01'Usually on the Royal Welsh, we've done a couple of shows before.

0:09:01 > 0:09:03'After you've done one or two shows'

0:09:03 > 0:09:05they seem as if they come to know what to expect

0:09:05 > 0:09:07and the sheep, they come to it.

0:09:07 > 0:09:09This year, the Royal Welsh is going to be the first show

0:09:09 > 0:09:12and only show, it's the only one we're doing.

0:09:12 > 0:09:15Because of the weather, the lambs haven't been shown before

0:09:15 > 0:09:19so Roland has to make sure that they're looking at their very best.

0:09:19 > 0:09:20187.

0:09:20 > 0:09:22'When you come to the back ends,'

0:09:22 > 0:09:24you brush it down so it's nice and tidy

0:09:24 > 0:09:27and then brush it out, to get the wool to stick out

0:09:27 > 0:09:29so it gives the impression...

0:09:29 > 0:09:31You look at that, see it?

0:09:31 > 0:09:35And then you look from by there, and you brush it up.

0:09:35 > 0:09:39It makes it look a lot wider, so anyone standing beside the ring,

0:09:39 > 0:09:41"Duw, good arse on that."

0:09:43 > 0:09:47Out of all four lambs chosen for the show, Roland has his favourite.

0:09:47 > 0:09:49I think we think he's our best lamb.

0:09:49 > 0:09:51He's got a cracking head on him.

0:09:51 > 0:09:53Nice dark nose, good eye features,

0:09:53 > 0:09:57bold eye there. He's nice and white, naturally white.

0:09:57 > 0:10:01He's had no colouring whatsoever and from here to here, look,

0:10:01 > 0:10:04a hell of a good length to get the loin on him.

0:10:04 > 0:10:07That's what you want, when his offspring is going to come back,

0:10:07 > 0:10:11coming down the ladder to the plate, that's what you're looking at.

0:10:11 > 0:10:13Really good tight skin, look.

0:10:13 > 0:10:15Much tighter than the last one we had.

0:10:15 > 0:10:18You look there, you can see how tight it is.

0:10:18 > 0:10:20Put your finger in, straight full.

0:10:20 > 0:10:22Good back end, good, solid back end.

0:10:24 > 0:10:26Good on his legs.

0:10:28 > 0:10:30What more do you want?

0:10:30 > 0:10:32Should be the best lamb there.

0:10:32 > 0:10:34We'll wait and see!

0:10:44 > 0:10:47Sunday morning and time to get things under way

0:10:47 > 0:10:50ready for the off for Royal Welsh week

0:10:50 > 0:10:53and this morning, Gina, Roland's wife, is in charge of the caravan.

0:10:55 > 0:10:58It is Roland's annual holiday!

0:10:59 > 0:11:01I know we've got the sheep

0:11:01 > 0:11:04and we have to feed them and bed them and things,

0:11:04 > 0:11:06but it really is a holiday.

0:11:07 > 0:11:11It must be one of the focal points of Wales for the year

0:11:11 > 0:11:15because the Royal Welsh is, everybody gets together

0:11:15 > 0:11:17and everybody enjoys, I think.

0:11:17 > 0:11:20The only downside is, there might be a lot of farmers missing

0:11:20 > 0:11:24because they'll be busy doing silage

0:11:24 > 0:11:27but yes, the Royal Welsh I really enjoy.

0:11:28 > 0:11:30SHEEP BLEAT

0:11:32 > 0:11:35Things are getting busy in the sheep shed

0:11:35 > 0:11:38and Roland has got some friends and fellow show competitors

0:11:38 > 0:11:43to give him a hand to prepare and load up, ready for the show.

0:11:43 > 0:11:46It's heavy. 70 kilos that's all it is.

0:11:46 > 0:11:47Not far off from leaving

0:11:47 > 0:11:49but one job left to do.

0:11:49 > 0:11:50Just about ready.

0:11:50 > 0:11:54Change my shirt and my shoes, we'll be about ready. Are we going?

0:11:58 > 0:12:01I'll send those sheep out now, change my shoes and be ready to go.

0:12:04 > 0:12:05And off they go.

0:12:05 > 0:12:07Llanelwedd, here we come!

0:12:32 > 0:12:3624 hours prior to the first competition of the Royal Welsh Show

0:12:36 > 0:12:39and things are flat out at the show ground.

0:12:39 > 0:12:45Over the weekend, some 7,500 animals are making their way to Llanelwedd

0:12:45 > 0:12:47with over 3,000 of them being sheep.

0:12:49 > 0:12:52Gina and Roland have found the pens

0:12:52 > 0:12:55which will be home for their lambs for the next four days.

0:12:56 > 0:13:01'Everything is about show up here. That's what we come here for.

0:13:02 > 0:13:05'It'll be a hard competition, I think.'

0:13:07 > 0:13:10Quite happy. They look all right.

0:13:10 > 0:13:11Don't know if they'll be champions

0:13:11 > 0:13:14but they'll be something we can be quite proud of.

0:13:20 > 0:13:22Oh, Duw, Duw!

0:13:22 > 0:13:24Knackered already!

0:13:30 > 0:13:33It's been a busy day for both Gina and Roland

0:13:33 > 0:13:35and just the caravan to sort out

0:13:35 > 0:13:38before they can finally relax and start to unwind.

0:13:39 > 0:13:42'We used to find, every time we went off even for a day,

0:13:42 > 0:13:43'we'd go up to the Royal for a day

0:13:43 > 0:13:47'and whenever you come back the next day, there was always problems.

0:13:47 > 0:13:49'You'd come to the point, it was hardly worth going

0:13:49 > 0:13:52'cos you're always sorting problems out the next day.'

0:13:52 > 0:13:56It's a bit easier now with the shop, it's more in one place,

0:13:56 > 0:13:59it's not spread out like we were on the markets

0:13:59 > 0:14:02and working on the farm and doing everything. Yeah.

0:14:02 > 0:14:05It's more confined so I think it's easier, to be honest.

0:14:06 > 0:14:09I don't particularly like hotels myself.

0:14:09 > 0:14:12When it's the caravan, it mightn't be much but it's ours,

0:14:12 > 0:14:14so I feel at home in it.

0:14:14 > 0:14:18I'm more comfortable. Yes.

0:14:18 > 0:14:20It is a week away, it's a holiday.

0:14:22 > 0:14:27It's one of those things, it's my holiday as well.

0:14:27 > 0:14:30I won't cook a thing this week! It'll be lovely.

0:14:31 > 0:14:34I try not to boil the kettle often.

0:14:34 > 0:14:38Sunday night showing tomorrow, quiet night, supposed to be.

0:14:38 > 0:14:40Let's hope it sticks to that.

0:14:40 > 0:14:43Once tomorrow's over, then all the pressure's gone

0:14:43 > 0:14:46and then after, you've only got Tuesday, Wednesday

0:14:46 > 0:14:49and then Thursday. Itchy then, can't wait to go home.

0:14:56 > 0:14:59ANNOUNCER: 'He's making a final decision for,

0:14:59 > 0:15:04'is how suitable all of these turnouts would have been...'

0:15:04 > 0:15:07Monday morning and it's showtime.

0:15:07 > 0:15:11'..the four wheel vehicle, having matching tyres...'

0:15:12 > 0:15:14Today is a big day for the Watkins family.

0:15:15 > 0:15:18'It's a couple of hours till showing time.

0:15:18 > 0:15:22'Hopefully, I know everybody's saying, "Get the sun out,"

0:15:22 > 0:15:24'but hopefully it doesn't come too hot

0:15:24 > 0:15:26'that they start panting, and things,

0:15:26 > 0:15:29'before they go out, and get a little bit stressed

0:15:29 > 0:15:31'because they want to be outside.'

0:15:31 > 0:15:34Hopefully the animal will show itself

0:15:34 > 0:15:37but not to allow it just to stand there

0:15:37 > 0:15:39and look very docile, and things,

0:15:39 > 0:15:43it needs to look quite perky, you know?

0:15:43 > 0:15:45It's his modelling career.

0:15:45 > 0:15:47SHE CHUCKLES

0:15:50 > 0:15:54The weather for the Royal Welsh week is better than expected.

0:15:54 > 0:15:56Today, Reuben and his wife Marie

0:15:56 > 0:15:59take advantage of the break in the bad weather

0:15:59 > 0:16:02to visit the show with their two youngest children.

0:16:02 > 0:16:04This is our annual outing, innit? Come to the show.

0:16:04 > 0:16:07Yes, to come to the show every year.

0:16:07 > 0:16:09It's our anniversary today so she's happy, now,

0:16:09 > 0:16:12that I took her out for the day! No, I'm not happy yet!

0:16:12 > 0:16:15Cos we haven't won anything yet, so I can't be happy yet, can I?

0:16:15 > 0:16:18She's not very happy cos I said I'm not coming up Thursday. No.

0:16:18 > 0:16:20Cos we normally come out for the two days

0:16:20 > 0:16:22and I want to come back up Thursday

0:16:22 > 0:16:24but, obviously, with the weather being as it is,

0:16:24 > 0:16:27he's got to do the silage, so...I'll come up on me own.

0:16:27 > 0:16:30Reuben works seven days a week on the farm

0:16:30 > 0:16:33so days like this are special for both him and his daughter Frances.

0:16:33 > 0:16:36Will I stick it on for you?

0:16:36 > 0:16:38'It's very emotional to have a day here and there,

0:16:38 > 0:16:41'when I can catch one to spend time with her.

0:16:41 > 0:16:43'I don't see her, she's in school five days a week.

0:16:43 > 0:16:48'Otherwise, I wouldn't get to see her only in the evenings, when she's tired

0:16:49 > 0:16:51'so, we enjoy it when we can.'

0:16:53 > 0:16:55'It is very important for Aaron to have our time

0:16:55 > 0:16:58'because, obviously, Frances does take up a lot of our needs

0:16:58 > 0:17:00'because of how she is.

0:17:00 > 0:17:03'Erm, and he does get left out, you know?

0:17:03 > 0:17:08'It's important that he feels that he is still part of the family

0:17:08 > 0:17:11'and, also, sometimes, you know, he tends to think,

0:17:11 > 0:17:13' "Oh, you love Frances more than us."

0:17:13 > 0:17:15'You know, trying to explain that to him...'

0:17:15 > 0:17:17is a bit hard sometimes

0:17:17 > 0:17:19but, yeah, it is really important for him to know

0:17:19 > 0:17:23that we are still there for him as well as all the rest, isn't it?

0:17:27 > 0:17:31Gina and Roland have been called into the sheep ring,

0:17:31 > 0:17:32ready for showing...

0:17:32 > 0:17:36..and things are a little tense.

0:17:36 > 0:17:39Just hoop it. This is it...

0:17:39 > 0:17:41..now or never.

0:17:41 > 0:17:45Which one am I...? Go in front Adam.

0:17:48 > 0:17:51They're not very well trained!

0:17:56 > 0:17:58After months of preparation and hard work,

0:17:58 > 0:18:01it's the moment of truth for the Watkins family.

0:18:01 > 0:18:06In total, there's a class of 97 rams to be judged.

0:18:12 > 0:18:15It's a huge competition,

0:18:15 > 0:18:20with the country's finest Texel yearling rams all in one show ring.

0:18:20 > 0:18:24Good boy. Good boy.

0:18:24 > 0:18:27Good boy.

0:18:30 > 0:18:34We got keep his halter on there - give him handles!

0:18:36 > 0:18:40Pressure's on and Reuben has arrived ringside

0:18:40 > 0:18:44just in the nick of time to keep a watchful eye on his brother.

0:18:45 > 0:18:49It's a long waiting game for everyone

0:18:49 > 0:18:51and tensions are running high.

0:18:58 > 0:19:01The judge has now eliminated half the class

0:19:01 > 0:19:04but it's good news as he's just put Roland's favourite ram

0:19:04 > 0:19:05through to the next round.

0:19:05 > 0:19:08'It's good to get this far, innit?'

0:19:08 > 0:19:11We'll see now.

0:19:11 > 0:19:14We'll see if we can get a card now - that's the next thing.

0:19:14 > 0:19:17It can only get better, eh? HE CHUCKLES

0:19:20 > 0:19:23Judge David McKerrow takes his time making his final choice.

0:19:25 > 0:19:28The lambs are set loose to see what they're like on the move.

0:19:31 > 0:19:34Will Roland's ram survive the next elimination?

0:19:36 > 0:19:38Yes, he's still in the final few!

0:19:44 > 0:19:48At last! The judges decision on the top ram goes to...

0:19:48 > 0:19:52..the Watkins. It's their first ever win at the Royal Welsh

0:19:52 > 0:19:55and a very emotional one for Roland, who is lost for words.

0:19:55 > 0:19:58First time ever, innit?

0:19:59 > 0:20:01Just over the moon,

0:20:01 > 0:20:04to win the Royal Welsh, can't get any better than that, don't think.

0:20:04 > 0:20:09Just chuffed. Ah, this is good, this is good. It's well worth it, innit?

0:20:09 > 0:20:11Yes. Better than the X Factor!

0:20:11 > 0:20:13SHE CHUCKLES

0:20:13 > 0:20:17I liked the length of him, and his skin, and he had a light male head.

0:20:17 > 0:20:20He was very male looking.

0:20:20 > 0:20:21The second lamb was a wee bit feminine -

0:20:21 > 0:20:24just a wee bit light, light of his bone -

0:20:24 > 0:20:27and that's what swayed me from between the two.

0:20:27 > 0:20:32It's been a long afternoon but a great day for the Watkins family.

0:20:32 > 0:20:36After ten years of showing their pedigree Texel sheep

0:20:36 > 0:20:39at the Royal Welsh Show, they finally have a first prize.

0:20:39 > 0:20:42It's certainly a day to remember for everyone.

0:20:42 > 0:20:44Mavis!

0:20:44 > 0:20:46That's good!

0:20:46 > 0:20:48'You never expect to have a first -'

0:20:48 > 0:20:51you hope but you never expect.

0:20:51 > 0:20:56And when you do it is really emotional. Really lovely.

0:20:56 > 0:20:59I can't tell you what it's like, honestly.

0:20:59 > 0:21:02I'm trying to put my rosettes now! SHE CHUCKLES

0:21:02 > 0:21:04Mine, not mine, the family's!

0:21:06 > 0:21:09This is the best we've had so far.

0:21:09 > 0:21:13I mean, er, and that big class I got...

0:21:13 > 0:21:16pleased with that.

0:21:17 > 0:21:20A win at the Royal Welsh Show isn't complete without a celebration

0:21:20 > 0:21:24with fellow competitors and friends.

0:21:30 > 0:21:31We've had a card before

0:21:31 > 0:21:35but to have a first at the Royal Welsh, that's incredible.

0:21:35 > 0:21:37It really is.

0:21:37 > 0:21:40It's hard. You've seen the classes.

0:21:41 > 0:21:44Yes, everybody understands there's bloody good sheep there.

0:21:44 > 0:21:48It's actually quite emotional because it's something you don't expect.

0:21:48 > 0:21:51You hope for but you don't expect, so it is, yes.

0:21:51 > 0:21:54I said to Roland, oh, he's not going to have nothing,

0:21:54 > 0:21:57he's going to have a card but nothing, not more what he had.

0:21:57 > 0:22:01So I'm glad he's had something and, no, very good,

0:22:01 > 0:22:03very well done to him and the family of course, innit.

0:22:04 > 0:22:06Flushed with their success,

0:22:06 > 0:22:10Roland and Gina can relax now for the rest of the day.

0:22:16 > 0:22:20Back at the family farm the work has to carry on.

0:22:20 > 0:22:22The good weather of the Royal Welsh week

0:22:22 > 0:22:24means the rest of the Watkins family

0:22:24 > 0:22:27can get on with some of the jobs they've had to put off.

0:22:27 > 0:22:30So, time to cut and harvest silage

0:22:30 > 0:22:33to ensure plenty of winter feed for the farm animals.

0:22:33 > 0:22:37And it's all hands on deck, including trainee butcher Luke.

0:22:38 > 0:22:40I'm just a driver today.

0:22:40 > 0:22:43Taking the bales from the field down to the bottom yard

0:22:43 > 0:22:45and Stuart's unloading them with the tractor.

0:22:45 > 0:22:49My dad's out, he's on the baler,

0:22:49 > 0:22:51so he's baling and wrapping in one field,

0:22:51 > 0:22:53and Gareth's down the other field.

0:22:53 > 0:22:54He's raking up, now,

0:22:54 > 0:22:58getting ready for Dad to go down there to get baling.

0:22:58 > 0:23:00Then he got me and Stuart, then

0:23:00 > 0:23:03bringing them from the fields to the bottom yard

0:23:03 > 0:23:06ready to mature a bit, ready for the cows for the winter.

0:23:06 > 0:23:10Rain's supposed to be coming in tomorrow. A lot of pressure.

0:23:10 > 0:23:13We've got to get all the bales off before the rain

0:23:13 > 0:23:17otherwise the tractor can't get back out here or the pickup.

0:23:17 > 0:23:19Very wet farming in here.

0:23:19 > 0:23:20Clay keeps the water,

0:23:20 > 0:23:25so once it rains we need two weeks of nice weather to get it dried back up

0:23:25 > 0:23:27so that we can get the tractors back on here.

0:23:27 > 0:23:29Otherwise they'll be too much mud in the bales,

0:23:29 > 0:23:32they'll be no good for our cows.

0:23:32 > 0:23:36No feed for the cows, no animals for the butchery,

0:23:36 > 0:23:40no money for the workers, no money for no-one.

0:23:43 > 0:23:47Farmhand Gareth is a key part of the team.

0:23:47 > 0:23:51'I started mowing, mowed the field Saturday,

0:23:51 > 0:23:54'er, and cos the weather was going to be good this week

0:23:54 > 0:23:56'we left it dry for couple of days.'

0:23:56 > 0:24:00Erm, but most farms round here, they'll probably get contractors

0:24:00 > 0:24:02but we do everything ourselves.

0:24:02 > 0:24:05It saves a bit of money as well, see, and there's plenty of guys here

0:24:05 > 0:24:08and we're not having to wait around for people, see?

0:24:08 > 0:24:10So, it works out easier for us.

0:24:10 > 0:24:12Every season Reuben would do the mowing,

0:24:12 > 0:24:16I'd come in, I'd turn the fields, turn them twice...

0:24:16 > 0:24:20er, and then I'd roll up and he'd be on the baler,

0:24:20 > 0:24:22he's always on the baler,

0:24:22 > 0:24:25so if something goes wrong I can't get blame then! HE CHUCKLES

0:24:27 > 0:24:29'Some takers, I think.

0:24:30 > 0:24:33'We had a big mow to do but I don't think we'll manage that before it rain

0:24:33 > 0:24:37So, we'll be more than halfway, we're getting on the three-quarters.

0:24:37 > 0:24:40Turn bale to hay tomorrow, now, and we're nearly there.

0:24:43 > 0:24:45'I enjoy it because I'm on my own, you know.'

0:24:45 > 0:24:48I don't have anybody shouting at me, so...

0:24:48 > 0:24:49But, then again, it's,

0:24:49 > 0:24:52it's nice to be around everybody at same time, if you know what I mean?

0:24:52 > 0:24:55So, everybody's getting on with work, so...it is enjoyable.

0:25:07 > 0:25:10Even though the silage making is keeping everyone busy,

0:25:10 > 0:25:13Stuart has decided to take a day out from the farm

0:25:13 > 0:25:18and for the first time in 30 years has made his way to the Royal Welsh

0:25:18 > 0:25:20with his fiancee Moyer.

0:25:20 > 0:25:23It hasn't changed much since the last time I was here! LAUGHS

0:25:23 > 0:25:25Hot and crowded!

0:25:25 > 0:25:27'We've been to the flowers,

0:25:27 > 0:25:30'we've seen a few of the flower displays, they were good.

0:25:30 > 0:25:32'And just general walk about, really.

0:25:32 > 0:25:35'See if there's any new, er, produce for the shop

0:25:35 > 0:25:37'and things like that, and see what's about.

0:25:37 > 0:25:39'We walked around first thing this morning'

0:25:39 > 0:25:41and we've got a lot of the things in the shop.

0:25:41 > 0:25:45There's a lot we have got already, so...looking for new things, really.

0:25:46 > 0:25:50But how have things been at home while Roland's been away?

0:25:50 > 0:25:52'Oh, peaceful!' STUART LAUGHS

0:25:53 > 0:25:55I just want to say, a pity! No, it is.

0:25:55 > 0:25:59No shouting, everybody's calm! THEY LAUGH

0:25:59 > 0:26:01Till Friday.

0:26:01 > 0:26:02HE LAUGHS

0:26:02 > 0:26:03'What happens on Friday?'

0:26:03 > 0:26:07Well, he's home Friday! Yes.

0:26:07 > 0:26:11We'll be on the ball tomorrow, now. Everything will be in its place!

0:26:11 > 0:26:13And then he'll always find something.

0:26:13 > 0:26:15He will, he'll find something, I know he will!

0:26:23 > 0:26:25It's the end of the Royal Welsh week

0:26:25 > 0:26:29and for both Gina and Roland it's been a week to remember.

0:26:31 > 0:26:36'It's been a really lovely week weather-wise, it's been fantastic.'

0:26:36 > 0:26:40It's a real big social event. It's been very good, innit?

0:26:40 > 0:26:41You can't walk anywhere

0:26:41 > 0:26:44without meeting up with somebody you know and having a chat.

0:26:44 > 0:26:45You says, "I'll meet you in ten minutes"

0:26:45 > 0:26:50and it takes two hours to get there because you get talking to somebody! HE LAUGHS

0:26:50 > 0:26:52That's the worst problem, probably.

0:26:52 > 0:26:54But, no, it's been really good.

0:26:54 > 0:26:56I don't know where she is taking me tonight

0:26:56 > 0:26:59because it's our wedding anniversary today!

0:26:59 > 0:27:02She hasn't said that she's taking out. SHE LAUGHS

0:27:02 > 0:27:06I was expecting a real romantic planned evening, you know?

0:27:06 > 0:27:09But it looks as if it's up to me again!

0:27:09 > 0:27:11You don't believe that, do you? THEY LAUGH

0:27:23 > 0:27:27It's three years since the Watkins took the big decision

0:27:27 > 0:27:28to build the farm shop.

0:27:28 > 0:27:32It's provided stability and work for the extensive Watkins clan.

0:27:32 > 0:27:38When they started, they couldn't be sure what the outcome would be

0:27:38 > 0:27:43but, for Roland, it was a risk worth taking.

0:27:43 > 0:27:46When we first started on this project, it was a big project,

0:27:46 > 0:27:51we didn't envisage spending half the money what we spent on it

0:27:51 > 0:27:55but, er, looking back over the time, er,

0:27:55 > 0:28:00I think it was the right thing to do to secure a future for the family

0:28:00 > 0:28:04cos there's a lot of family members working here. I think it was.

0:28:04 > 0:28:06It makes the business more substantial

0:28:06 > 0:28:09than what we were doing before, out of markets and things.

0:28:09 > 0:28:12You could quarrel with the toby and be kicked off the market.

0:28:12 > 0:28:14Well, that can't happen by here.

0:28:14 > 0:28:18So, I think it's put a much more secure future for the family

0:28:18 > 0:28:22and that was what the aim of the whole thing was.

0:28:23 > 0:28:27If my mother had been alive she'd be as pleased as punch.

0:28:31 > 0:28:35I couldn't even tell you how much.

0:28:49 > 0:28:52Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd