Farmer’s wife Llinos Evans will have a problem disguising her husband’s Christmas present this year – wrapping a trailer isn’t easy?
The gift will not, however, come as a surprise for Ed Evans as he was delighted to learn that his wife was the winner of the first prize in a hugely popular competition run by the S4C rural affairs programme Ffermio in conjunction with Ifor Williams Trailers.
As in previous years, contestants were asked to answer questions given over several weeks and, as usual, there was a massive response.
Llinos, who helps on the family farm at Ty Mawr, Llanrhaeadr YC, near Denbigh, has tried her luck every year since the competition was launched without any success – and she very nearly lost out this time.
“It was at the 11th hour that I sent in my entry because I hadn’t realised it was the closing date,” she said.
When she received the call informing her of her win Llinos, who is a part-time Welsh teacher at Ysgol Brynhyfryd, Ruthin, thought it was a joke.
“I received a missed call in my phone in school and didn’t recognise the number. I thought it was someone trying to sell me something,” she said.
But then the truth dawned – that she had won the first prize of a TA5 livestock trailer worth £2,925 plus VAT.
“It’s a lovely Christmas present and saves me having to buy anything else for Ed but it will be difficult to wrap,” she joked.
The family, who farm 260 acres, have been customers of Ifor Williams Trailers, Europe’s largest trailer manufacturers, for about 35 years and currently own a DP120 model which is in constant use. The new model will take its place.
Llinos was unable to attend the annual Winter Show at Llanelwedd and so it was left to her 17-year-old son Dafydd Fon Ifan, a second-year student at Coleg Llysfasi, to receive the trailer on her behalf.
Llinos said the win came as a huge shock because she rarely entered competitions, despite daughter Erin, a pupil at Ysgol Brynhyfryd, having won a hamper in a Hybu Cig Cymru (Meat Promotion Wales) competition at the Winter Show about five years ago.
“She’s often telling me we should enter more competitions,” said Llinos.
According to Ffermio presenter Meinir Jones the Ifor Williams Trailers competition has become increasingly popular with viewers not only in Wales.
“It really is a wonderful competition and we see an increase in interest year on year,” she said. “It doesn’t surprise me as they really are, without doubt, the tops when it comes to trailers.
“It’s fantastic that the company has once again put up three of their best products as prizes.”
Iorwerth Roberts, from Ifor Williams Trailers, said they were proud to be associated with Ffermio and that the faith in their product was clearly demonstrated in the response to the competition.
“It is an indication that our trailers are in great demand,” he added.
A spokesperson for S4C added: “The annual Ffermio competition captures the imagination of viewers every year.
“It reflects the popularity of Ffermio as a series that is at the heart of the S4C schedule and the response to the competition was fantastic again this year.
“We would like to thank Ifor Williams Trailers for providing the prizes and to Telesgop, who produce the series, for organising the competition.”
The second prize of an LT85 commercial trailer with mesh extensions, worth £2,170 plus VAT, was won by Lewis Williams, from Llanfihangel y Pennant, near Tywyn, and the third prize – a BV64 box van trailer worth £1,710 – went to Iona Daniels, of Boncath in Pembrokeshire.
