AN actress who gave up a career on the stage to return to her family farm has been named as the Wales woman farmer of the year at the Royal Welsh Show.

Nicola Drew runs her family beef and sheep farm, at Trefecca, near Talgarth, in partnership with her dad Peter. She collected the NFU Cymru/NFU Mutual Wales award at a special celebration at the union’s base on the Llanelwedd showground on Thursday.

The 34-year-old worked as an actress in theatre in education productions, after graduating in performing arts, from De Montfort University aged, 21 before deciding nine years ago to take on the family farm.

"Dad wanted to retire and we talked about what would happen to the farm and at that point I decided to come home to the farm. Dad is still there everyday and he helps me out but it is my responsibility."

Nicola has two younger brothers, who are both in the building trade locally, and mum Ann Davies is a solicitor.

But she said she and her siblings never felt they would have to take on the family’s College Farm which was once part of the estate of Howell Harris the agricultural innovator and and 18th century Welsh Methodist revival leader whose home is now a Bible college.

"I grew up on the family farm and have two younger brothers but one of us taking it on was never really talked about. We all had other interests and pursued them. We were never really pushed but I always enjoyed farming."

Next year Nicola will marry her partner Gwion Pughe who is also a farmer.

Judges were impressed at how in the past nine years Nicola has re-built the farm and now has around 240 acres of land, as well as renting 40 acres and at her hands-on approach to the management of the land.

She conducts soil testing and uses a rolling programme to reseed less productive pastures. She is an active member of Brecon Grassland Society where she has gained knowledge to help the process of ley improvements and grassland management.

As well as managing her own farm Nicola is also a member of the National Sheep Association ‘Next Generation’ group and acts as an ambassador for them by promoting sheep farming and lamb and wool production. She is a keen advocate for the involvement of the next generation in farming. She also represents her local hockey and netball teams and is the current chairman of Gwernyfed Hockey Club.

NFU Cymru Deputy President and competition judge, Aled Jones, said: "After visiting the farm it is clear Nicola has played an active role in the development of the business for the last nine years. The fact that she gave up her successful career in performing arts to come home to the farm shows her commitment to the industry, and the family farm. I was extremely impressed with her dedication and passion for farming, her hunger to learn, undertaking courses and training to ensure she gets the best from her business. Nicola’s win shows all those women who want to farm that anything is possible when you set your mind to it.”