LAST week Coleg Llysfasi became part of the new North East Wales Regional College when it merged with Deeside College, a milestone for the college and its students.
But for one man the merger marked the end of an era, as principal Fred Cunningham was hanging up his hat after 40 years.
With more than 5,000 enrolments and 130 members of staff, Coleg Llysfasi is based on two main campuses, Llysfasi near Ruthin and Wrexham Training at Felin Puleston, Wrexham.
It offers a range of courses including agriculture, forestry and conservation, small animal care, engineering, hair, beauty and holistic therapy, and childcare.
Since it was established over 90 years ago, Coleg Llysfasi has focused on its mission of providing high quality learning for its predominately rural community.
On the last day of term this year Mr Cunningham spoke to an assembled audience of 500 students, their families, local businesspeople and staff.
Farmer’s son
He outlined the changes ahead and announced that he would be standing down as principal and leaving Llysfasi, a position he had been pleased to hold for close on 28 years.
Mr Cunningham is a farmer’s son who worked in the Ministry of Agriculture in Northern Ireland.
Before becoming principal of Llysfasi in 1983, Mr Cunningham worked as a lecturer for 10 years in the Welsh College of Agriculture, Aberystwyth.
He has overseen major developments at the college, and ensured Llysfasi became a centre of excellence for those who live and work in the countryside.
He is an active member of national committees and bodies and has a rich network of professional agriculturalists and educationalists both in Wales and beyond.
“I have been heavily involved with agricultural education in Wales for nearly 40 years and during this time there have been considerable developments with technology and mechanisation along with livestock breed development across the country,” he said.
“Food production is higher quality now than ever before and agricultural education has ensured that high quality remains the farmers' priority in all aspects of the countryside.”
The number of farmers may have declined, he said, but technical developments have increased and today's farmer must be a sound stockman, businessman and use technology to his advantage.
“Welsh farmers are very resilient, and they are keen to keep abreast with the latest technology and to increase efficiency on their farms.
Tribute
“The demands from a discerning farming industry has ensured that Llysfasi has kept abreast with technical, economical and scientific developments through applied farming technology transfer activities.”
During his time at Llysfasi, he said there had been a number of major developments in the industry.
“Initially, milk quotas were a challenge and today Llysfasi’s 1.4 million-litre quota is filled by the 170 Holstein Friesians and the college’s sheep flock has 2,000 breeding ewes and replacements, and the college farms close on 1,000 acres of grassland, arable forage and woodlands.”
Paying tribute to the next generation of farmers Mr Cunningham said: “The farming industry should be proud of its current harvest of newly qualified students.
“Agriculture has had tough times in recent years.
“However, it is very pleasing, that farm gate prices have risen during the past year and this has given renewed confidence to the whole of the farming industry.