FOUR twentysomethings from Herefordshire with their sights set on careers in agriculture have received a helping hand from one of the county’s top farming societies.

Kington Show president Philip Thomas handed over cheques for £250 each to Hannah Williams, Kate Maddy, Penney George and Phil Dray as part of the event’s charitable annual grant scheme.

Last year’s recipients added their own thanks to the show society for the assistance they were given in 2016. Reuben Powell put his grant towards a “trip of a lifetime”, a chance to explore farming in New Zealand, while Ruby Powell used her award towards a new laptop to help with her business studies at Harper Adams University.

Wishing this year’s award-winners well in their endeavours, Mr Thomas presented cheques to them on the showground watched by show chairman, Richard Williams.

Twenty-year-old Hannah from Westhope, who is training to be a vet, said the cash would help her find placements during her third year of studies at Liverpool.

Kate Maddy, 22, from Gladestry, plans to put her bonus towards an educational visit to New Zealand. Studying agri-food at Harper Adams, she said her dissertation will focus on links between New Zealand lamb and consumers in the UK.

Penney George, 22, from Titley, who works on a dairy farm, will find her grant helpful towards a planned visit to New Zealand next summer where she hopes to gain more experience in dairying.

Phil Dray, 22, from Almeley, studying agriculture at university in Aberystwyth, will be spending his money on a course specialising in the use of sprays and pesticides.