Siân Teleri is a contractor from North Wales who has recently appeared on ‘Grassmen’, which is an agricultural machinery film production company on YouTube. During the video, Siân talks about her unforgettable experience in New Zealand, and her current work as one of the only female contractors in North Wales. This is Siân’s story…
Mae Siân Teleri yn gontractwr o Ogledd Cymru sydd wedi ymddangos yn ddiweddar ar ‘Grassmen’, cwmni sy’n cynhyrchu ffilmiau peirannau amaethyddol ar YouTube. Yn ystod y fideo, mae Siân yn siarad am ei phrofiad bythgofiadwy yn Seland Newydd, a’u gwaith presennol fel un o’r unig gontractwyr benywaidd yng Ngogledd Cymru. Dyma hanes Siân…
I, Siân Teleri Jones am currently a second-year student at Harper Adams University studying Agri-Business. I took a year out after A-levels which ended up being extended to two and a half years due to the pandemic. We already had good family friends in New Zealand, and I was told it was similar to Wales but on a bigger scale, which made it even more exciting to go over.
Yn dilyn fy nghyfnod allan yn Seland Newydd o 2019-2022, rydw i, Siân Teleri Jones, yn fyfyrwraig yn fy ail flwyddyn ym Mhrifysgol Harper Adams yn astudio Amaeth a Busnes. Mi gymerais flwyddyn allan ar ôl gwneud fy lefel-A, a gafodd ei estynni i ddwy flynedd a hanner oherwydd cofid. Roedd gennym ffrindiau teulu da yn Seland Newydd beth bynnag a chlywais i ei fod fel Cymru ond ar raddfa mwy – roedd hyn yn ei wneud yn fwy cyffrous i fynd yno.
During the two and a half years, I worked on dairy farms for a year before turning my hand to the world of contracting. Although I enjoyed working with livestock and had great employers, I wanted a change of scenery. Due to the travel restrictions, there was a shortage of staff which gave me the fortunate opportunity to have a go at driving tractors professionally for John Austin Ltd. I worked two seasons for John Austin Ltd in Waikato, North Island, and reared calves and worked with horses during the winter.
Yn ystod y ddwy flynedd a hanner, mi weithiais ar ffermydd godro am flwyddyn cyn troi fy llaw i’r byd contractio. Er fy mod yn mwynhau gweithio gyda da byw ac roedd fy nghyflogwyr yn ardderchog, roeddwn yn awyddus i newid byd. Oherwydd y pandemig, roedd byrhad o weithwyr ac felly roeddwn i’n ffodus o gael cyfle i roi cynnig ar yrru tractorau yn broffesiynol. Gweithiais i am dau dymor i John Austin Ltd, yn Waikato ar Ynys y Gogledd, hefyd magu lloau a gweithio gyda cheffylau yn y gaeaf.
I worked with people from all corners of the world, and most of us were in similar situations which we bonded over; they became my home away from home. It was a challenge to be away from family during the pandemic, especially as the situation was much worse at home. There was frequent worry about my family and friends across seas, but with the uncertainty of everything, it was safer to stay in New Zealand.
We had a tough 2-month lockdown at the beginning of the pandemic, yet restrictions soon lifted and New Zealand became covid-free for months, and life carried on as normal compared to the rest of the world. I had an unforgettable experience and was able to make some once in a lifetime memories, doing things like bungee jumping, skydiving, mustering cattle, rafting, and hunting. These were only a fraction of the activities I was able to take part in, and I certainly met some amazing people and made life-long friendships.
Mi weithiais gyda phobl o bob cornel o’r byd a gan fod y rhan fwyaf ohonom yn yr un cwch, daethom fel teulu. Roedd yn sialens bod i ffwrdd o fy nheulu a ffrindiau, yn enwedig gan oedd y sefyllfa dipyn gwaeth gartref. Ar ôl dau fis o gyfnod clo, roedd bywyd nôl i’r arferol yn Seland Newydd a doedd dim cofid yno am fisoedd. Mi gefais brofiad bythgofiadwy, gwneud ffrindiau anhygoel a chael cyfle i wneud gweithgareddau cyffroes ac anhygoel.
I returned home to our family farm in Snowdonia, North Wales, to finish the lambing season in April 2022. It was a very strange feeling returning home after being away for so long. Everyone and everything seemed different yet the same, however, I was overjoyed to see my family and friends again after such a long time and was glad to see everyone safe. I could tell the pandemic had had a completely different effect on people and their attitudes but after a bit of time, I soon settled and got used to living at home again.
Yn Ebrill 2022, ddychwelais adref i’r tymor wyna’ i’m fferm deuluol yn ardal Eryri, Gogledd Cymru. Roedd yn deimlad digon rhyfedd dod adra, roedd gymaint wedi newid, ond eto dal yr un peth. Er hyn, roeddwn wrth fy modd yn cael gweld fy nheulu a ffrindiau eto ar ôl amser hir ac yn falch o weld pawb yn ddiogel. Roedd yn amlwg bod y pandemig wedi cael effaith ar bobl a’u hagwedd, ond ar ôl ychydig o amser, mi arferais gyda byw gartref eto fel doeddwn erioed wedi gadael.
In June 2022, I then started working as a contractor for Dewi Mark Williams in Llangernyw, North Wales. Dewi has helped me develop my experience further focusing on harvesting grass silage, maize, and whole crop, as well as cultivation, slurry and muck spreading, and drilling. I spent this summer in a John Deere 6155R and was fortunate to be filmed and appear on ‘Grassmen’, where I talked about my personal experience. Although I am furthering my education at Harper, my passion tends to bring me back home to do what I really love – driving tractors and farming.
Ym mis Mehefin 2022, dechreuais weithio i Dewi Mark Williams yn Llangernyw, Gogledd Cymru, fel contractwr amaethyddol. Mae Dewi wedi helpu datblygu fy mhrofiad mewn cynhaeafu silwair glaswellt, indrawn a cnwd-cyfan, yn ogystal â chwalu tail a chwistrelli slyri, trin tir, a hadu. Mewn John Deere 6155R roeddwn i drwy gydol yr haf eleni ac roeddwn yn ffodus o gael fy ffilmio ac ymddangos ar ‘Grassmen’, lle roeddwn yn siarad am fy mhrofiadau personol. Er fy mod yn datblygu fy astudiaethau yn Harper, rydw i wrth fy modd yn dychwelyd adref yn ystod y gwyliau i ffermio a gyrru tractor.
I have a passion for agriculture, and I love working in the industry. I promote women in farming as we are just as capable as anybody else. I believe if you really want to do something, with hard work and dedication, nothing can stop you pursuing your goals. This experience has personally been very beneficial and helped develop my confidence, as well as building an international network. I have gained lifelong friends, and memories which I will always cherish, and I would recommend to any young person to travel. I aspire to return overseas in 2024 to complete my placement year as part of my university course.
Mae gennyf i angerdd tuag at amaethyddiaeth a dw i wrth fy modd yn gweithio yn y diwydiant. Rydw i’n hyrwyddo merched yn y byd amaeth ac rydym mor alluog ag unrhyw un arall – yn ogystal â hybu unrhyw un sydd isho ymuno â‘r diwydiant neu fynd dramor. Roedd y profiad yn fuddiol yn bersonol gyda datblygu hyder a fy rhwydwaith rhyngwladol. Gobeithiwn ddychwelyd dramor yn 2024 i gwblhau fy mlwyddyn allan fel rhan o fy nghwrs prifysgol.
If you would like to learn more about Siân, here’s the link to her interview with Grassmen where you can see some of the work she does as a contractor, her advice for young women thinking about a career in agriculture, and more!
