Success at Royal Welsh Show for Harper Adams University
THE 50th Royal Welsh Show has been hailed a huge success by Shropshire’s Harper Adams University after hundreds of prospective students, alumni and industry partners were welcomed to the institution’s reception centre.
For the 2013 show the university from Newport hosted two receptions, sponsored two dairy cattle competitions and was the main sponsor for the Wales YFC Young People’s Village, which featured acts such as DJ Greg James and S Club.
The university also had a reception centre at the heart of the showground in the Lantra Building throughout the duration of the four-day event, which finished last Thursday.
Speaking as the show came to a close, Dr David Llewellyn, Vice-Chancellor of Harper Adams, said: “It’s been a tremendous week at the Royal Welsh Show meeting lots of prospective students, alumni and industry contacts.
“We have sponsored a number of events and have worked hard to support the Royal Welsh Agricultural Society at what is one of the most important agricultural events in the season’s calendar.
“The show continues to go from strength-to-strength and Harper Adams is pleased to be involved in its important work in raising the profile of agriculture.”
On Tuesday, more than 60 prospective students from Wales were invited to an afternoon reception hosted by Harper Adams in the YFC building, where they were able to meet Dr Llewellyn and other members of staff.
On Wednesday morning, Dr Llewellyn entered the cattle ring to watch the judging of the Fitzhugh Dairy Championship before presenting prizes to the winners and runners-up. The winners were Willsbro Goldwyn Kitty 5, from AH Wilson & Son, and Moorshard Lennon Rosa 93, owned by RK & SG Miller and Sons. Dr Llewellyn later presented the winners with the Fitzhugh trophy during the main parade of prizewinning livestock in front of thousands of show-goers.
Wednesday saw show bosses welcome HRH The Prince of Wales and HRH The Duchess of Cornwall, who toured the showground for a number of hours on what was the busiest day at the event with an attendance of over 72,000.
Later in the day, Harper Adams hosted an evening reception for alumni in the International Pavilion attended by graduates from across Wales.
On Thursday, Harper Adams returned to the cattle ring for the judging of the RWAS/Harper Adams Dairy Young Cattle Handlers competition, which was open to 14 to 26 year olds. Lorraine Westwood, Director of Marketing and Communications at the university, presented prizes to the winner and runners-up. The title was won by Nadine Pilkington from Wrexham and the runner-up was Sion Thomas.
The Harper Adams reception centre was busy throughout the show, boosted by the launch of the university’s TV advertising campaign in Wales on ITV Wales and S4C.
Alex Hardie, Marketing Manager – Shows and Events, said: “The Royal Welsh Show is one of the most significant shows for Harper Adams University. It’s an essential opportunity for us to reconnect with former students and our extensive industry partners, as well as meet prospective students.
“We are delighted to be part of what we consider to be one of the finest shows of them all and look forward to an equally successful 2014 show.”
Lucy Gilbert, who is studying BSc (Hons) Rural Enterprise and Land Management at Harper Adams, was one of a number of Student Ambassadors who helped on the university’s stand at this year’s show.
The 19-year-old from Hereford said: “I offered to help at the show because it is local to me and I think it is good to promote Harper Adams to people who live around here.
“I don’t speak Welsh but have a lot of friends and know a lot of people through family connections who live around the area the show is held so I thought it would be good to do.
“It has been great because it has given me the opportunity to speak to prospective students and promote a university I firmly believe in.”
Fellow Student Ambassador Sophie Jones, 19, from Aberbran, Powys, also helped on the stand at this year’s show.
The BSc (Hons) Food and Consumer Studies student said: “Being a Welsh student I have been able to help prospective students with advice about Harper Adams and share my personal experience of the university.”
ENDS
Sarah Swinnerton
Harper Adams Press Office
Newport, Shropshire
01952 815291
Harper Adams University is the UK's leading specialist provider of higher education for the rural and land-based industries. Our mission is to deliver higher education and research for the delivery of a sustainable food chain and rural economy. To see how Harper Adams can help you, visit www.harper-adams.ac.uk
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