Huw Roberts, Llangaffo Cefn Gwlad

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-I'm visiting Glan Gors Farm,

-Llangaffo.

-It's the home of Huw and Ann Roberts

-and their family.

-It's a family farm, but Huw has his

-fingers in a few other pies too...

-..as you'll see.

-SHEEP BLEAT

-The grass is growing, Huw -

-don't they want it?!

-No, they don't -

-but they're quite independent.

-Dorset is a popular breed.

-Why did you choose it?

-We had a plan, originally.

-Because Dorsets can give birth

-three times within two years...

-..it meant I could keep fewer sheep

-but produce more lambs in a year.

-But we've adopted a pattern

-of lambing just once a year...

-..in February and March...

-..because, otherwise,

-we were lambing all the year round.

-When winters are hard,

-a single lambing period is enough.

-These sheep belong to my wife.

-You enjoy showing the sheep.

-Yes, we compete at a few shows.

-We used to compete at the

-Royal Welsh, but not any more.

-We compete at the Anglesey Show,

-the Caernarfon Show...

-..and at other, smaller shows.

-Is it because you're a member of the

-breed society, or for enjoyment?

-Since we've been breeding

-pedigree sheep...

-..we've been on trips

-with the Welsh club...

-..and got to know lots of farmers

-from your area.

-We visit your area every year.

-This year, I have the honour

-of being the Welsh club president.

-I'll be judging in Llandovery.

-Well done!

-Have you always lived here?

-No, I'm from Dinas Dinlle.

-Across the strait?

-Across the strait?

-

-Yes, across the strait.

-We've been living here for 34 years,

-since 1982.

-My father had a dairy farm

-in Glynllifon...

-..but the tenancy came to an end.

-I went to college in Northampton,

-and to Llysfasi...

-..and Glynllifon, of course.

-Not that it did me much good!

-But I attended those colleges.

-So much brain - is there any room

-for common sense?!

-After that, I sold animal feed

-to farmers for about 10 years...

-.for BOCM.

-But I was keen

-to get back to farming...

-..and I was fortunate enough

-to receive this tenancy in 1982.

-We've been very happy here.

-We've raised four children.

-It's a great place,

-though it's out of the way.

-You don't see anyone

-unless they want to see you.

-Very often,

-you don't want to see anyone!

-WHISTLING

-Huw is happy to be with his cobs

-and his Limousin cattle.

-This bull produces good calves.

-They're not too big - that's good.

-Show cattle are often too fat.

-If they're too fat, I don't

-give them any nuts in winter...

-..otherwise,

-the calves become too big.

-It's an easy breed to manage.

-It's an easy breed to manage.

-

-Yes.

-I bought this bull in Carlisle.

-I went all the way to Carlisle...

-..and ended up buying a bull

-from a farmer from Ro-wen in Conwy!

-It was the only bull that I fancied.

-The farmer didn't charge me

-for transporting the bull home!

-He's not much to look at,

-but he produces good calves.

-That stallion moves well.

-Yes, he can move.

-There's something about cobs.

-At the Royal Welsh, it's thrilling

-to watch the stallions move.

-Tell me about the stallion.

-I bred him myself -

-he's called Dinlle Dewin Doeth.

-Gwenllan Bossy is his sire,

-Blaengwen Jay-Lo is his mother.

-She's a daughter of Welsh Magic...

-..which gave rise to the name

-Dewin Doeth.

-One of the mares is a Carneddi,

-the other is a Sangrug.

-I don't show them,

-I keep them for pleasure.

-We used to show Section A ponies

-when our daughter lived at home...

-..but she got married...

-..and I'm too old to run them.

-These days, we show sheep.

-You're keen on horses, too.

-When you get up in the morning...

-..it's wonderful to see

-a mare and a foal...

-..in the field

-in front of the house.

-Yes, it's nice to see them.

-It would feel strange

-if we didn't have any horses...

-..but we need to reduce the number.

-You don't want too many.

-The children have flown the nest,

-but they haven't gone far.

-They've settled in the local area.

-Huw and Ann are very happy

-to look after their grandsons...

-..and granddaughters.

-I had a wash last night, thanks!

-You're busy.

-How's it going?

-We're doing well, aren't we?

-Are you preparing for a show?

-Yes.

-Well done.

-Have you started shearing

-this sheep?

-Have you?

-She doesn't have much wool.

-Nain.

-Giving orders to Nain!

-Will you show her for Nain?

-Will you show her at the show

-for Nain?

-It's nice to see them

-taking an interest at that age.

-Right.

-Is that alright?

-Sheep involve a lot of work.

-Why do you enjoy it?

-We make new friends...

-..and people see the sheep

-at shows...

-..and people

-who buy smallholdings...

-..are keen to buy from us -

-shows are a shop window.

-There's money in it.

-They're like teddy bears!

-Yes, lots of people say that!

-They're like teddy bears!

-Lots of people ask about them.

-They're nice and quiet to manage.

-# Famous people can often be heard

-# On the radio, singing for you

-# Did you ever hear,

-whatever your age

-# Anyone as talented as us?

-# Moo moo, meh meh, quack quack

-# We are the farmyard trio

-# Moo moo, meh meh, quack quack

-# Listen to the farmyard trio #

-I was looking at those sows.

-Is there a boar, too?

-A sow and a boar - you breed pigs.

-I bought these as weaners.

-I buy a number of pigs

-from time to time.

-I fatten them and take them

-to Denbigh to be slaughtered.

-I sell half the meat to friends.

-I always buy Welsh pigs.

-We entered four at the

-Anglesey Winter Fair last year.

-Ann took them along,

-and she won the championship.

-We received a huge rosette,

-a band, and 80.

-That was a good job!

-There isn't much money to be made,

-but I like having pigs around.

-Pigs are my favourite animals,

-always have been.

-They're for sale, Dai!

-I've been looking around.

-You have ducks, sheep for showing,

-horses, cattle, pigs.

-People must think I'm losing

-my mind, with so many animals!

-The children like them.

-And there's more to life

-than making money...

-..although, yes, this pays.

-You remind me very much of Noah!

-All I need is a boat,

-and plenty of rain next winter!

-Like many other farms,

-diversification is a necessity.

-The Roberts family has established

-a successful fencing company.

-Today, they're working

-on the Faenol Estate.

-It's a great place.

-Straps are needed here.

-What are they keeping - elephants?!

-It's fencing for deer.

-It's old, of course.

-It's all very old -

-the poles, as well.

-Yes, things we've removed

-from the woods.

-Myfyr, the owner, was keen

-to project a vintage image.

-Well done.

-Dylan, I don't think

-I've met you before.

-He's my eldest son.

-He's a strong lad!

-Smart too - like his mother!

-Yes, he's like his mother!

-His father's brains

-and his mother's looks!

-We've been fencing together

-for the past 15 years.

-How many people do you have working

-for the fencing company?

-Dylan and I started the company,

-15 years ago.

-Iwan, my younger son,

-joined us about four years ago.

-We have four local men

-working with us.

-What's that over there?

-It looks unfinished.

-We had one pole left over.

-This shows you what they used to do

-with the posts.

-This is a piece of slate.

-I see - there isn't any...

-I was wondering how you got them

-into the ground.

-We go down two inches

-and pack the soil around them.

-These are bolted firmly.

-No cement?

-Nothing but soil.

-Just soil, yes.

-They're completely solid.

-Yes, they are.

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-Ann has asked me to come

-to the house to do some cooking.

-Cooking?!

-We start with margarine.

-Some sugar.

-Would you like to use a mixer,

-or are you alright?

-I'd rather use a mixer!

-Good gracious!

-The sugar won't mix in.

-You're doing well!

-Just...

-That won't work, try the table.

-You've done it!

-Mix it again.

-Are you originally

-from Anglesey, Ann?

-No, I'm from Y Felinheli.

-Dad and Mam were farmers.

-You were brought up on a farm?

-I wanted to be a farmer...

-..but Dad said no,

-I'd have to do something else.

-So I became a hairdresser.

-We need some coffee, too.

-You're doing a good job, Dei.

-Hot water.

-Hot water.

-

-Smashed to smithereens.

-Yes, like crumbs.

-We're doing well.

-We're doing well.

-

-I've never been much of a cook.

-You enjoy cooking?

-You enjoy cooking?

-

-No, I'm a bad cook!

-When we had a new microwave,

-and I was at home alone...

-..I put two eggs in a saucepan

-and placed it in the microwave.

-I'd never heard such a loud bang!

-Seriously!

-Mixing cement is nothing

-compared to this!

-It's like ready mix!

-I'll find a tin to put it in.

-Let me show it to the world, first!

-To the world!

-Isn't it good?!

-Alright, here you go, Ann.

-It's making my back ache.

-Yes, it does.

-Yes, it does.

-

-It's worse than lugging bales.

-BACK TO THE CAKE, DAI...

-Pour it all into this.

-Pour it?

-Yes, get it in.

-It won't come out.

-It's like sheep dung on a carpet!

-I'm glad it's not like cement!

-I'll leave you

-to put it in the oven.

-You have a fancy cooker.

-There we go.

-40 MINUTES LATER

-Now then, Ann - this is

-the first cake I've ever made!

-And I've passed

-my three score years and ten!

-The cake!

-Well!

-Well done!

-It has risen nicely.

-It has risen fantastically well!

-Why is it cracked?

-Did we use too many eggs?

-SNAP

-What was that?!

-It's still too hot for me to lift.

-What is it called?

-So I can let people know.

-So I can let people know.

-

-It's a coffee and walnut cake.

-Coffee and walnut.

-Can you smell that, Huw?

-Can you smell that, Huw?

-

-It smells good!

-It'll be in my lunchbox tomorrow.

-Who's this?

-Guests are arriving!

-We want to try the cake.

-Could you smell it outside?

-Yes, it's nice.

-Two delightful young people.

-Are they related to you?

-Yes, a grandson and granddaughter.

-What school do you go to?

-Syr Hugh Owen.

-You help Taid with showing sheep.

-I try!

-Taid washes them and I show them.

-We've been talking

-about you all morning!

-They told me that you've passed

-your driving test.

-Yes - people had better watch out!

-Now, you'll be able to drive Taid

-from place to place!

-Yes - a chauffer!

-And what do you do?

-I'm in Year 10...

-..and I'm about to sit

-three science exams.

-Will you work over summer

-and earn some pocket money?

-I don't know -

-I think I'll just chill!

-Helping Taid.

-Very good.

-The best of luck to both of you.

-She can have this cake for a party

-to celebrate passing her test!

-That's right!

-That's right!

-

-Excellent!

-Don't drive after eating that!

-I don't know what's in it!

-This is Tyn Gongl Farm,

-Llannerch-y-medd.

-It's the home of Iwan,

-the younger son, and his family.

-Of course, his fencing costs

-are bound to be a little cheaper!

-He's hard at work.

-I haven't seen that before.

-I haven't seen that before.

-

-It's handy.

-It saves having to bend so much

-to open the coils.

-I just do this.

-It's good.

-Yes, it's...

-Could you hold this?

-Do you want me to hold it?

-Do you want me to hold it?

-

-Yes.

-Then we're away with this,

-down the field.

-Off you go to Amlwch!

-Off you go to Amlwch!

-

-All the way to Amlwch!

-Yes, it's very handy.

-Yes, it's very handy.

-

-Yes, it is.

-First class!

-First class!

-

-It saves having to bend down.

-We made this ourselves.

-We also have equipment

-for working with barbed wire.

-You create things to make

-your work easier, as you go along.

-Iwan, this fencing won't take long.

-It's going well.

-It's going well.

-

-Yes, it's coming along well.

-Good fences are vital.

-Yes, it helps a lot.

-These machines

-are great for erecting posts.

-They're very safe.

-You can keep on going.

-There's no need

-for anyone to hold anything.

-The pole is held by the machine -

-it's much easier.

-It's nice, you're a family

-and everyone knows what to do.

-We all work together.

-We're very happy, yes indeed.

-I don't want to keep you

-from your work.

-Champion, brilliant!

-Thank you!

-It's wonderful to have such sons.

-Yes.

-It's the only way to run a business.

-They do most of the work,

-and I can take a back seat.

-They do the planning.

-I have a final say, of course.

-Lots of young men, all speaking

-the language of heaven!

-That's great!

-It's good that they're working.

-It's great that we've developed the

-fencing to keep them in employment.

-I'm pleased with that.

-They're chatting away

-and enjoying the work.

-Yes, they're a happy gang.

-There isn't a boss - everyone

-pitches in to get the job done.

-One thing I've noticed -

-it isn't always done, these days.

-People don't always put barbed wire

-at the bottom.

-We always do it.

-If you place the netting too low...

-..over the years, the grass grows up

-and drags it down.

-With barbed wire at the bottom...

-..animals can't stick their heads

-through the gap.

-It's good to see a team of people

-working together and enjoying life.

-That's right.

-No-one wants to be boss.

-We all work together.

-We enjoy fencing.

-I don't know about you...

-..but in my view,

-of all the industries...

-..farming will be the last to go.

-People can't do without food.

-We'll be safe for years...

-..and I'm sure the children

-have a future in farming.

-Things will get better.

-It's terrible when there's nothing

-to keep them here.

-It's important...

-..for young people to be able

-to remain in their localities.

-I've enjoyed my visit.

-We've had sunshine every day.

-We've had sunshine every day.

-

-Yes, that means a lot.

-S4C subtitles by Trosol Cyf.

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