TWO charities have benefitted from a Powys Young Farmers Club’s illuminated festive tractor run which raised almost £5,000.

Pontfaen YFC’s president's illuminated tractor run raised more than £4,200 for the Wales Air Ambulance and Macmillan Cancer Support.

Around 50 festive tractors took to the roads of Powys as the convoy set off from the small rural communities of the Epynt above Builth Wells, like Battle, Pontfaen, Merthyr Cynog, Upper Chapel, Lower Chapel and Pwllgloyw, before finishing in Brecon and concluding with a raffle.

“Following the disappointment of the Covid-19 cancellation of our 2021 tractor run there was great anticipation in our community for this year’s event,” said the club’s Sian Healey.

“Hundreds of people turned out to see the procession at various places along the route. Santa and his elves brought a welcome smile to the children and handed out gifts to those gathered at Morrisons Car Park, thanks to Morgans Family Butchers and Youngs of Brecon for donating money to purchase chocolates for the children and thank you to NFU Cymru for the loan of the model cow attached to Santa’s sleigh.

“Thanks to McCartneys LLP for permitting us to start the event at Brecon Market. Judging was adeptly conducted by Gethin Havard, Brecknock YFC county president, with the best dressed tractor going to Jamie Bufton of Battle Fawr. We extend our thanks to Gethin for his help and to Wynnstay for donating the prizes.”

The club would like to thank the following sponsors for their generous support of our event: ADG Morgan Agri Contracting, Alpaca My Boots, Agri Torque Ltd, Bbi Group, Beacons Group, the Brecon & Radnor Express, Caleb Roberts Insurance Services, Caroline’s Real Bread, CBS Ltd, C&J Davies Cwmachau Cabins, Clee Tompkinson & Francis, Cradoc Golf Club, DT Holloway, Epynt Holidays Ltd, Farmers’ Welsh Lavender Ltd, Hills, Ivor Duggan & Sons, J&C Griffiths, JHS Training, Llandovery Tyres, Lyndon R Jones Heating Services Ltd, Morgan’s Family Butchers, Parry & Pugh Funeral Directors, Phil Davies Haulage Ltd, Pixelhaze, Spa Motors, Sunderlands, T Alun Jones, Ted Hopkins, The Strand Cafe, Wigwam Brecon, Williams Coaches, WW Bowen, Wynnstay, Youngs of Brecon.

Local county councillor Iain Mcintosh said: “The Pontfaen YFC presidents’ illuminated charity tractor run was a fantastic event and hopefully, the first of many to come.

“Many residents gathered outside their homes and in villages to see around fifty vehicles, with festive lights and decorations, make their way from Brecon Livestock Market, around the route, to finish at Morrisons car park in Brecon. I would like to thank Sian Healey, Raiff Devlin, Jan Healey, Gaynor and Alun Morgan, and everyone else from Pontfaen YFC who helped organise the event to raise thousands of pounds for both the Wales Air Ambulance and Macmillan Cancer Support charities.

“I’d also like to thank Morrisons Brecon for allowing the event to finish at their car park, where people gathered to view all the decorated tractors, and share a mince pie or two.”

Sincere thanks to Jo Evans, grant community champion from Morrisons, for accommodating all the tractors in car park, donating food for the drivers, and giving out mince pies and sweets at the end.

The evening concluded with the raffle, thanks to all members who donated prizes including the Metropole Hotel, Strand Cafe, Builth Wells, Fountain Inn, Builth Wells, thanks also to the Greyhound Hotel for selling tickets on our behalf.

Club chairman Raiff Devlin thanked everyone who had helped in any way to make the event such a success.