15-06-2025
- Business
- Powys County Times
Powys farmer new role at NSA Wales & Border ram sales
A Powys farmer and a familiar face at the NSA Wales & Border Ram Sales is stepping up to a new role.
Helen Fairclough-Watling will be supporting Executive Director, Jane Smith, in the significant job of organising the sales, which are an important economic driver in Mid Wales.
She has been working at the sales for more than 20 years, having first been asked by the late George Hughes to work on the arrivals and exit gates.
It was a natural progression to then work with the tup taxis, on the admin desk and generally multi-tasking over the three days of employment at the main sale each September.
She farms at home and previously with her parents, but has always had part-time seasonal jobs, in catering, stewarding at the Royal Welsh Show and with the gate staff at the NSA Wales & Border Ram Sales.
Helen returned home to farm after obtaining a degree in Agriculture with Animal Science from Aberystwyth University. She also lectured at Coleg Powys at the Brecon site until the agriculture department closed.
Over the years, she has been an active member of Howey YFC and Future Farmers of Wales. Currently, Helen serves on the Newbridge-on-Wye playgroup and Friends of Newbridge-on-Wye school committees.
The NSA Wales and Border Ram Sales will take place on August 4 and September 22.
