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Hay Days by John Beynon ‘Penlan’

12 April 2026

The greatly anticipated farming memoirs from St Davids Welsh Black cattle farmer, the late John Beynon, launches in June 2026. Published by Welsh publisher ‘Y Lolfa’, it has been described as: “An ordinary yet extraordinary historical memoir of farming and country life over the last 90 years”. 

John reminisces with humour and warmth about his long experience of farming, with a wealth of detail about historical agricultural practices and life as a farmer in St Davids. 

John was very well known within the Welsh Black Cattle Society and in wider agricultural circles. The Beynon family’s Tyddewi Herd had considerable success throughout the UK, winning breed champion at the Royal and Royal Welsh shows and Welsh Black ‘Herd of the Year’ on many occasions. John was a former president of the Welsh Black Cattle Society and a fellow of the Royal Agricultural Societies. He was also one of, we believe, only two people ever to win all three of Welsh agriculture’s most prestigious awards: the Sir Bryner Jones Award (top award at the Royal Welsh Show), the Idris Davies Memorial Trophy (Pembrokeshire County Show) and the Arthur Pritchard Award (Fishguard Show).

Hay Days details the formation of the Tyddewi Herd and features chapters on many of the well-known Tyddewi animals – Tyddewi William (1987 Bull of the Year), Tyddewi Maria 3rd (1987 reserve Female of the Year), Tyddewi Merlin (maybe not the biggest prize-winner, but definitely the most popular Tyddewi bull with his own fan club!), Maria 4th (1990 Female of the Year) and Tyddewi Marie 4th (Royal Welsh female champion). John also discusses the herd’s role in herd recording schemes and an epic helicopter rescue of Arglwyddes Aderyn – dam of Tyddewi William!

The book includes a foreword by well-known farmer and TV presenter, Adam Henson, who says: “This is a fascinating account of farming life in Pembrokeshire, peppered with true stories and adventures. John takes you on a journey of the life and exploits of a quite extraordinary family whose lineage stretches back to an illegitimate son of King Henry VIII. From St Davids to San Francisco, this tale is interspersed with dramatic helicopter rescues of cows, epic seafaring explorations, the discovery of treasure in a St Davids cottage and touching anecdotes of life on the land. John may be best known for a lifetime of breeding and showing Welsh Black cattle at the highest level, but his is no ordinary memoir: John’s fascination with detail is evident on every page and, in his intricate descriptions, he brings the past alive. A must-read for anyone interested in farming, history and the countryside.”

John’s daughter, Dr Sarah Beynon, is founder of The Bug Farm in St Davids, where the Tyddewi Herd now reside. The farm features a new Pembrokeshire Farming History Museum, opened in John’s honour. Part of a new Nature Recovery Centre, the Museum features many of the pieces of family and farming memorabilia that John mentions in his book. 

Sarah says: “My last promise to Dad, just a day before he passed away on Christmas Eve 2021, was that I would create a museum of the family’s rich farming history and publish his memoirs. Dad’s reply was, “That would be lovely, Sar.” I am so very honoured to be able to share his life story as a thank you to a wonderful man and an even more wonderful father.”

‘Hay Days’ is available from The Bug Farms gift shop and online shop, as well as in book shops across Wales and further afield. It is currently available by pre-order on The Bug Farm website.

High resolution image downloads for use in press and publicity articles – copyright Hay Days by John Beynon: