“We do not have the right to give up”: Romain Angelras, new president of the Young Farmers of Gard

Romain Angelras, nouveau président des JA du Gard. MIDI LIBRE – MIKAEL ANISSET

Autour du président, une équipe soudée. MIDI LIBRE – MIKA ANISSET

La première génération de JA "post autoroute" a choisi ses représentants dans le Gard.

It was in the middle of the family vines, Chemin de Campagnol in Nîmes, that he held his first press conference. Romain Angelras, 35 years old, winegrower and cereal grower (1), is the new president of the Young Farmers of Gard. He succeeds Ludivine Verlaguet, who remains a member of the office and to whom he paid tribute.

Coming from a family of wine growers (his father, Bernard, elected from Nîmes, who was president of the JA is also president of the French Institute of Vine and Wine), Romain has "always immersed in the notion of the collective, very important in our profession. But it fits very clearly into a generation which experienced a new beginning at the beginning of 2024 with the "historic" of anger and occupation of the highways: "The peasant world had never moved for so long and with so many people. We had very strong support from the population. We realized that this profession was not dead. We don't have the right to give up. This collective is very important for the future."

At his side, Romain Angelras can count on a united team, which reflects the diversity of the Gard region and which is aware of the responsibility incumbent on them: "We perhaps do not take the best of times, but we are going to do the best we can given the economic situation,” assures Fabien Chaussinand, sheep breeder in Saint-Gilles and general secretary.  

"Not a FDSEA again"

Among the missions, of course, the maintenance of agriculture, the return of decent income and access to the profession for young people: " We are not a FDSEA bis. We are focused on a young audience, the most fragile in agriculture, insists Romain Angelras. When we settle down we have very large loans to honor. The installation is an obstacle course. If tomorrow we want our country to continue to produce and feed, we must ensure this generational renewal"  

Among the current issues, in addition to the various issues addressed on the highway, there is also the burning issue of the Alès slaughterhouse, which is awaiting news from commercial court next week. "We need local slaughterhouses, insists Noa Saignol, cattle breeder in Mauressargues. If it closes, many farms will close' quot;

(1) Romain Angelras took over the family estate with his brother Thomas. They have 104 hectares of vines and around fifty cereals.

(2) The office: 

Romain Angelras, Fabien Chaussinand, Quentin Teissier, Pierre Vidal, Noa Saignol, Laurent Bourelly, Jessica Santanach, Stéphan Cavalier, Julien Courdesse, Cédric Sadoulet, Ludivine Verlaguet.