Every year the Young Farmers’ Eisteddfod brings together members from all over Wales to have fun and showcase rural talent at its best.

The event was unable to take place last year because of the pandemic, but it’s back this year.

Highlights of all the fun of the Eisteddfod, held at Pafiliwn Pontrhydfendigaid, will be featured in a special programme on S4C on Saturday 27 November at 7.30pm.

Presenters Aeron Pughe and Jessica Robinson will bring all the fun of the competitions and backstage excitement to the screen. Aeron is a familiar face on the screen, but this is a new experience for Jessica.

Jessica, originally from Llandysilio, Pembrokeshire, but now living in Cardiff, has been immersed in the activities of the Young Farmers Clubs since she was 10 years old. She feels deeply indebted to the movement for sparking her interest in performing, and shaping her career as a freelance opera singer and singing teacher:

“Being part of the Clunderwen Young Farmers Club was key to my upbringing; I had amazing opportunities. There wasn’t much going on in the countryside social-wise, and this was a social club, competing, a little bit of everything.

"It was a way for me to gain the confidence to perform. Singing at the Eisteddfod was the highlight for me – competing in the classical singing competitions, but I did pretty much everything – and some of the sillier competitions too.

"Through the Young Farmers, I gained skills I would never have had the opportunity to do otherwise, like public speaking, stock judging and tug of war. I then went on to represent Wales in the tug of war team!”

Although Jessica has previously taken part in many interviews on programmes that follow the Young Farmers Clubs, this is her first time presenting - something she finds quite an honour: “I feel like it’s a nice thing to do after being involved with the organisation for years. "I do anything I can to keep my hand in - I love everything about the organisation!

"I’m really nervous about it, but there’s always a lot of fun to be had in the Eisteddfod so I’m sure it’s going to be a fun day, and Aeron knows the ropes... so I’ll follow his lead!”