16 December 2009

Cardigan farmer Aled Rees has won the title of Wales’ Best Farmer on S4C’s farming competition Fferm Ffactor and drives away the series’ top prize, a brand new 4x4 Isuzu Rodeo Denver vehicle.

Aled, 38, came top after impressing the series’ official judges, Dai Jones and Professor Wynne Jones, throughout the competition. In the final round, he once again pleased the judges as he introduced a presentation on how to strengthen the Welsh agricultural industry in front of the Welsh Assembly’s Rural Affairs Minister, Elin Jones.

Aled fought tooth and nail to beat fellow finalists Cefin Evans from Aberystwyth and Pwllheli’s Gareth Roberts to the title.

“It’s a great feeling to win the competition and the brand new pick-up. It means so much to me and to my family – they’ve all been a great support to me over the past few months, enabling me to take part in the series while they looked after the farm.

“Cefin and Gareth are two very strong contenders which made it even harder to second guess who the judges would pick. But I’m 100% happy with the way I’ve performed throughout the series. There’s not one single task I look back on and think I could have done differently.”

Aled has juggled competing on Fferm Ffactor with running his farm and admits he doesn’t want the competition to come to an end.

“I would do it all over again without a doubt! I really don’t want it to end; we’ve had such a great experience.”

One of the highlights of the series for Aled has been building new friendships – with his co-competitors, the judges and the production team.

“We’ve become a close bunch and we’ve been able to bond together - whether we’ve been working in pairs or in teams. I do think that we’ll all be friends for life. We’ve been through this unique experience together.”

S4C viewers will be able to enjoy all the highlights from the series in a special programme which includes behind-the-scenes footage and outtakes, broadcast on Tuesday, 22 December at 9.30pm.

The Fferm Ffactor production team are looking for new enthusiastic competitors for the next series. For more information, visit s4c.co.uk/ffermffactor