After a brilliant first day at the County Show, Staffordshire Young Farmers held their Male and Female Tug of War in the Main Ring on Wednesday evening, 30th May. A great crowd of supporters from across the County and other clubs also turned out in force in the Grandstand to watch a hard fought competition. Many of the teams have been training three times a week since before Christmas and their hard work and efforts paid off.
Following a great standard of pulling, in wet conditions which despite the slippy main ring, made for a great competition. The results on the evening for the male competition were: Waterhouses YFC team beat Stone YFC to the 1st place position. Stone YFC were the runners-up and Uttoxeter JNFU took 3rd place.
In the ladies competition, Waterhouses YFC stormed to victory coming in first place. The results ended with Waterhouses YFC taking home the silverware on the night, Eccleshall YFC in 2nd place and Uttoxeter JNFU in 3rd place.
The 1st and 2nd placed teams from each competition will now go forward to the West Midlands Round of the competition at The Three Counties Show, Malvern on Sunday 16th June.
Click HERE for photos from the competition.
On Tuesday 28th May, Staffordshire Young Farmers Club hosted their Pre-Show Reception which was kindly sponsored by Abbotsholme School, Rocester and Stafford Land Rover at the YFC Office on the County Showground. The evening was attended by sponsors, supporters and invited guests of the Federation and sees the start of the Staffordshire County Show kicked off in style for many!
The evening proved to be very entertaining with the ‘YFC’s Got Talent’ Competition, where competitors presented any talents of their choice from singing to comedy. The judges, George Hawley & Graham Hollinshead commented that the six acts they had judged were all very entertaining and unique in their own way!
After the acts had performed, the winners were announced as Uttoxeter JNFU with Toby Hall and Rob Mollatt. Toby and Rob gave the audience plenty of laughs with their comedy duo act. In second place Leek YFC entertained everyone with their diverse Abba Tribute Act, complete with a flavour of The Full Monty, and of course, with a farming spin! Taking third place was Eccleshall YFC’s comedy act which consisted of a group of members looking to attract Dan Moseley via their version of “Eccy Tinder!”
The Club Display Competition was also held during the evening. Members created a display promoting their club in a space no larger than 1m2. The judges, Dewi Parry, NFYFC Vice Chairman and Tracey Chamberlain said “We were impressed with how well the clubs promoted themselves in a compact space and are really pleased to have been asked to judge this competition.” The final results were, 1st place Eccleshall YFC, with Leek YFC 2nd and in 3rd place were Ashley YFC.
Various cheques were also presented to members who had been successful in gaining a place on the NFYFC YFC Travel Programme. Staffordshire Young Farmers Ambassadors give help and support to all those applying on the programme and this year cheques were presented to Amy Nicholls (Ashley YFC), Sam Fowell (Eccleshall YFC) and Mike Grigg (Stone YFC) who are travelling to Costa Rica and Lizzy Chapman (Ashley YFC) who is going to Austria. Last year’s travellers were also invited on stage to talk about their experiences including Grace Gibbs of Waterhouses YFC who has spent three months on the C Alma Baker Trip to New Zealand.
The Leslie T Chester competition results were also presented for the best 500 word story using 15 specified words – sophisticated, paradoxical, napkins, cow, refreshing, flipflop, registered, gangster, armadillo, dictionary, chocolate, trump, giggle, capacitor & mardy. First place went to Phillippa Bourne of Stone YFC (for the third year running!), second place to Imogen Bloxham of Eccleshall YFC with Annabelle Lane of Abbotsholme YFC coming third.
The evening was a great start to this year’s Staffordshire County Show and gave everyone and opportunity to relax and enjoy a really varied night of entertainment. The purpose of the evening is for Staffordshire YFC to thank all those who support the Federation so well with sponsorship, hosting events, stewarding and giving in their time to volunteer for the charity.
Launching the County Show this year, Staffordshire Young Farmers Club will host the Pre Show Reception on Tuesday 28th May. At the reception, the YFC members from around the 10 clubs in Staffordshire put on “YFC’s Got Talent” which has in the past included sketch show acts, synchronised swimming and some very funny comedy antics. This year’s reception is kindly sponsored by Abbotsholme School, Rocester along with Stafford Land Rover and will be attended by over 150 sponsors, supporters, members and invited guests of the Federation. Also, at the reception, the results of the winning Club Display Competition is announced. Each club will be creating a display inside the YFC Marquee which showcases their club and promotes YFC over the two days of the show.
Staffordshire YFC will be showcasing just what being a young farmer is all about inside their marquee which is erected to the side of their purpose built office on the showground. The marquee is always a hive of activity, and with their theme this year being “Best of British” there will be plenty to see and do. Entertaining attractions inside the marquee this year include “Feed the Pig”, “Guess the name of the Mother Hen”, “Hunt for Supermoo” Competition, Chocolate Tombola and Hook a Duck. The members are also busy filling a star prize wheelbarrow which will be filled with numerous goodies including days out vouchers and sweet treats! Tickets for this raffle will also be on sale from the YFC Marquee.
The YFC Marquee has been kindly supported by Shires Vets again this year who have sponsored all YFC helpers with a free polo shirt as well as giving away joint Jute Goody Bags filled with items from Shires and Staffs YFC. Come and see them inside the YFC Marquee over the two days of the County Show. To find out more about Shires Vets, please click here.
On Wednesday 29th May, the County round of the National Male and Female Tug of War Competitions is held in the Main Ring and the County Show Float Competitions to the theme of “Disney Films” will take to the main ring at 2.30pm on Thursday afternoon. Clubs have already started to build their floats and the visitors to the show will be entertained greatly by their versions of Disney Films including “Pirates of the Caribbean”, “Cars” and “Jungle Book.
The Staffordshire YFC new membership years starts again in September and all clubs will be looking to recruit new members aged between 10 – 26 years to come and get involved in the largest rural youth organisation in Staffordshire. Each club offers unique opportunities on their weekly programme of events which is organised “by the members, for the members”. In addition to this, the County federation, Staffordshire YFC organises a programme of competitions and events for all ages and abilities throughout the year. All elements of YFC incorporate teambuilding, boosting confidence, leadership and fun. All you need to become a member of this organisation is a willingness to get involved, learn new things and enthusiasm!
Polly Baines, County Chairman “The County Show season is getting into full swing, all the clubs are so busy putting time, effort and skill into the show floats and their club displays to showcase what they as a YFC club are proud of. Personally, I cannot wait to see what the clubs have got in store for this year’s County Show!”
For information on becoming a member or details of your local Club, or details on any of the YFC activities, please come and visit the YFC Marquee at the County Show where there will be many of our members who’d be happy to help.
Staffordshire County Federation of Young Farmers Clubs (SCFYFC) County Rally was held on Saturday, 4th May at Blore Farm, Hales, nr Market Drayton by kind permission of The Lea & Baines Family and was once again this year, a great success for the strong ten Staffordshire YFC Clubs. The Rally day managed to stay dry with a great turnout of over 250 members along with sponsors and supporters to cheer on their Clubs in the various competitions. Members have been preparing weeks ahead to enter the Static Classes ranging from making “Hot Cross Buns,” creating patchwork blankets, sculpting a Recycled Tin Man and Photography as well as taking part in plenty of action competitions on the actual day including Bungee challenge, Potato Launching Competition and competing in the all-time favourite ‘Greasy Pole’ in order to try and win some silverware at the end of the Day.
Two of the National Federation of Young Farmers (NFYFC) Competitions were also held on the day, including the Floral Art. In the Junior Class, competitors were required to create an exhibit to the theme: ‘My Great Hobby’ An exhibit to depict a hobby or pastime with the winning entry coming from Lydia Taylor of Uttoxeter JNFU. In the Intermediate Class, the requirement was to create an exhibit to the theme “Great Craftsmanship” An exhibit to depict a particular craft., the winning entry was from Phillippa Titley of Ashley YFC. The Senior Class required competitors to create an exhibit to the theme “Great inventions that changed the world” An exhibit to depict an invention that changed the world, which was won by Hannah Britland of Uttoxeter JNFU. The three members will all go forward to compete in the NFYFC Finals held at the Malvern Autumn Show in September along with the runners up in each age category as well.
The main ring held a huge “Total Wipeout” Competition with teams of up to 6 members from each club taking part. This was a great success, with members loving the assault course of various challenges including jumping through tyres and crawling through tunnels with everything involving lots of water, the overall winners of the Sports Cup from this competition were Waterhouses YFC.
The highly competitive Junior Tug Of War competition, which is also a National Competition for 2019 sees the highest two place teams go forward to the Three Counties Show at Malvern in June. Members aged between 12 and 17 years from Cheadle YFC took 1st place with Waterhouses YFC coming a close second. The day was rounded off by the ever-popular Mixed Tug of War competition, which saw 4 teams taking part, and Waterhouses YFC, taking the silverware for the day, beating Eccleshall YFC in the final.
The day was kindly sponsored by over 60 local companies and supporting organisations, with the main sponsors being South Staffordshire College and Johnsons of Cheadle.
Young Farmers always like to help other charities and despite an extremely busy day, Uttoxeter Young Farmers ‘Braved the Shave’ with Club Chairman Mark Whitehurst having his head shaved by The High Sheriff of Staffordshire, Mr Ashley Brough raising over £1100 For Cancer Research UK. Also, on the day four female members of Uttoxeter Young Farmers had their hair cut by Mr Brough, and their long locks will be sent off to a charity which makes wigs for children who have suffered with cancer. Mark Whitehurst, Club Chairman of Uttoxeter Young Farmers said “A massive thank you to those that took part in our fundraiser and to everyone who was so generous to donate! It was fantastic to raise so much for this worthy cause! The rally draws in people from all across the county each year for a brilliant day of fun and competitions, so Uttoxeter Young Farmers would like to thank the Staffs YFC team for the opportunity to hold our fundraiser at this event.”
Back at Blore Farm that night, the Results and Trophies were announced and presented on by the hosts, Mr & Mrs Lea, at the Rally Dance. To view the full set of results please click here
Polly Baines, County Chairman of Staffordshire YFC said “This weekend has been a true representation of everything YFC! From teamwork and competitions to multiple incredible skills and best of all, fundraising for Cancer Research! Saturday not only saw a very busy County Rally but we also accommodated Uttoxeter Young Farmers going for it with their ‘Brave the Shave’ raising funds for Cancer Research. On Sunday, we organised a Charity Lunch called ‘Give Cancer the Boot’. Having been directly affected by my mum having the disease, it made the urge to raise funds for Cancer Research even more important. The afternoon was a great success with a funds of over £8000 being raised for this worthwhile charity! This weekend has shown how much “teamwork really does make the dream work!” Being a part of the Staffordshire YFC is fantastic, the support is amazing and I cannot thank everyone enough for their hard work, time and backing throughout this weekend!”
A full set of photos from the Rally Day can be found here and for a set of photos from “Give Cancer the Boot” click here
After a full on day of competitions ranging from Potato Launching to Floral Art….. The Overall Results for the silverware were as follows:
Overall Rally Cup:
1st Uttoxeter; 2nd Waterhouses; 3rd Ashley
Most Improved Club Shield:
1st Ashley; 2nd Uttoxeter /Waterhouses
Rose Bowl:
1st Uttoxeter; 2nd Cheadle; 3rd Eccleshall
Junior Cup:
1st Waterhouses; 2nd Ashley/Uttoxeter; 3rd Chase
Intermediate Cup:
1st Uttoxeter; 2nd Waterhouses; 3rd Ashley
Senior Cup:
1st Uttoxeter; 2nd Waterhouses; 3rd Chase
Associate Cup:
1st Ashley; 2nd Waterhouses; 3rd Uttoxeter
Eccleshall Shield:
1st Lichfield; 2nd Uttoxter; 3rd Stone
Sports Cup:
1st Waterhouses; 2nd Leek; 3rd Ashley/Cheadle
Tractor Handling Cup:
1st Stone; 2nd Waterhouses; 3rd Ashley
TWW Jones Award (Wildlife Quiz):
1st Chase; 2nd Waterhouses; 3rd Uttoxeter
Tug of War Tray:
1st Waterhouses; 2nd Eccleshall; 3rd Uttoxeter
For all the photos from a brilliant Rally Day held by kind permission of The Lea & Baines Family, please click here
Staffordshire YFC will not be slowing down this weekend! On Saturday 4th May, it is the Federations Annual Rally at Blore Farm, Hales by kind permission of the Lea and Baines Family. A day packed with 38 competitions ranging from Floral Art to Pasta Pictures and Tug of War to Egg Catching! Members from across Staffordshire YFC will be competing for their club to take home the silverware for the various competitions including the Junior, Intermediate and Senior Cups as well as the Overall Rally Cup. The day commences at 10am with a Total Wipeout, including the infamous “Greasy Pole Challenge” taking place in the Main Ring from 11.30am. Rounding off the day will be the hard fought Mixed and Junior Tug of War Competitions which commence at 3pm. The day is supported by over 50 individual company sponsors with Johnsons of Cheadle and South Staffordshire College as the Main Sponsors.
The Staffordshire YFC members will be celebrating the Annual Rally at the Dance held at the farm in the evening which is for members aged 16+ of Staffordshire YFC to attend.
Spectators and guests are welcome to join Staffordshire YFC at the Rally Day, with a great display of YFC members showcasing skills, teamwork and their great sense of fun. Hot food and refreshments will also be served all day by the federations very own Catering Committee.
For full details about the Staffordshire YFC Rally and Dance, click here.
Not content with a super busy Saturday Day and Night, the host family, with Polly Baines, current Staffordshire YFC County Chairman at the helm, have organised a Charity Lunch entitled “Give Cancer the Boot” which will be attended by over 200 guests on the Sunday 5th May from midday. Polly Baines, County Chairman said “Canapes will be served on arrival followed by a two course lunch. The afternoon entertainment will involve YFC members and supporters taking part in a number of “races” which guests will be betting on, including a “Wild Waiters and Waitresses” race! A raffle will be held during the afternoon and all the money raised will be split equally between Cancer Research and Staffordshire YFC.”
For full details of Give Cancer the Boot, click here.
To get involved in Staffordshire YFC, as a supporter or member, telephone 01785 248645 or email countyoffice@staffsyoungfarmers.org.uk
On Sunday 28th April The Staffordshire YFC Young Stockjudge and Stockman of the Year Competition took place by kind permission of the Abbotsholme School Farm in Rocester with the dairy cows being judged nearby by kind permission of John and Tracey Chamberlain of Holly Hurst Farm, Marston Montgomery. Competitors were required to judge 4 rings of animals, Dairy cows, Breeding Ewes, Pigs and Beef Cattle, place them and give positive comparative reasons to the master judges. The overall winners on the day were as follows:
Overall Senior Member – 1st Harriet Wilson, Eccleshall YFC; 2nd Jake Manning, Lichfield YFC; 3rd Johnny Wilson, Uttoxeter JNFU.
Overall Intermediate Member – 1st Paul Brown, Eccleshall YFC; 2nd Sally Leese, Eccleshall YFC; 3rd Rob Mollatt, Uttoxeter JNFU.
Overall Junior Member – 1st Alicia Smith, Chase YFC; Joint 2nd Sarah Beswick, Leek YFC and Daniel Weaver, Stone YFC.
Once the team points had been combined, the clubs were positioned as follows:
Junior Overall Young Stockjudge Team of the Year – 1st Chase YFC, 2nd Uttoxeter JNFU, 3rd Leek YFC
Overall Stockman of the Year Team (Intermediates and Seniors combined and the Overall Team with all points combined) – 1st Uttoxeter JNFU, 2nd Eccleshall YFC, 3rd Chase YFC
Stockjudging is one of the many competitions organised by Staffordshire YFC and gives members the opportunity to utilise their skills with regards to judging and understanding of the make-up of an animal, market demands, and communication, observation and presentation skills which are transferrable in their future career or education path.
County Chairman, Polly Baines said “This year were really pleased to have our Stockjudging Competitions Day supported by Shires Vets, who came along and gave competitors an array of free gifts and encouraged the members who were taking part. The top three Overall Winners in each age category also received prize money which is kindly sponsored by The Staffordshire and Birmingham Agricultural Society. This has helped to make the day a great success for everyone who has taken part.”
A composite team made up of the highest placed competitors in each again category will go forward and represent Staffordshire YFC at the West Midland Area eliminator on Sunday 30th June, hosted by Herefordshire YFC.
To view a full set of photos from the day, please click here
This years competition was held by kind permission of Phil & Sarah Heath of Foker Farm, Leek. 10 teams took part which involved judging, placing and giving reason on a ring of 4 dairy cows, the results on the night were:
=1st – Lichfield YFC & Uttoxeter A JNFU, 3rd – Waterhouses YFC
For photos from the evening please click HERE
The first three months of 2019 have not stopped for the busy members of Staffordshire County Federation of Young Farmers Clubs (SCFYFC), who have already held nine of their County Competitions, hosted a day of Public Speaking Competitions for the West Midlands Area as well as organising a successful Turnout Ball in February and rounding off the social events with the County Dinner Dance in March.
Back in January the New Year started with 13 team’s competition at Stafford Ten Pin for the Annual Ten Pin Bowling Competition. It was straight into the County Quiz as the second competition of January, and this time 20 teams from across the County were challenged to quiz rounds on general knowledge, travel, famous faces and music. Later that same week Eccleshall and Uttoxeter met to take part in the County Debating Competition, with Eccleshall taking first place and heading to the West Midlands Area round of the competition which Staffordshire YFC were hosting in February.
February saw SCFYFC hold a Clay Pigeon Shooting Competition over at Doveridge Clay Sports and then later that month the Darts Competition was held in Leek. The County Ball was held at The Ingestre Suite, County Showground with just over 300 members and guests enjoying DJ Tom Bowers, ex Harper Student and member of Eccleshall YFC keeping the dancefloor filled. Rounding off a very busy February, Staffordshire YFC hosted their fellow West Midlands Area counties with seven competitions including Junior Speaking, Senior Debating and a Show Choir Competition. Eccleshall YFC kept up their winning streak on this day and will be taking part in the NFYFC Finals of the Show Choir Competition which is also held on the County Showground on 6th July.
The County round of the Cookery Competition was held in March which this year was kindly supported by Like Nanna Made. From baking to sport, there is nothing that Staffordshire YFC members won’t have a go at. Later in March, clubs took part in the County Volleyball Competition over at Madeley High School, Newcastle. Then rounding off the month, they held a Pool Competition, Silage Judging Competition and in the mix there was an Irish Night held over at Checkley Village Hall where members let their hair down in true YFC style!
April has already started with the sound of the hammer and gavel being knocked down, as 11 members had a go at a brand new competition, Auctioneering, held by kind permission of Johnsons of Cheadle, with expert judges, Mark and Meg Elliott of Bagshaws Llp giving some excellent advice and encouragement on the night. Waterhouses member, George Goodwin will go forward to represent Staffordshire in the West Midlands Area round which is held at the Three Counties Show in June. Members also “flinged themselves into spring” with their traditional event, a Spring Fling Disco, held for members across the county over a Lower Loxley by kind permission of the Phillips Family. A great night was had by all those who came.
Staffordshire YFC is looking to recruit more members for all of its ten clubs in the coming months, and is holding a One Big Social Night on Thursday 18th April where members “past, present and potential” are invited to come and meet with Club Officers from each of the ten clubs – Abbotsholme, Ashley, Chase, Cheadle, Eccleshall, Leek, Lichfield, Stone, Uttoxeter and Waterhouses. The federation had 561 members currently aged 10 years – 26 years of age. In order to continue with double representation on an area and national level at competitions and meetings, they need to have 601 members by the end of August.
County Chairlady Polly Baines said, “With a fully packed calendar of events and opportunities left in the year, it is the ideal time for a new member to try out Staffordshire YFC to open their social life. There is the Annual Rally on 4th May with 38 competitions and fun activities being held and then the County Show week from Wednesday 29th May to Thursday 30th May is always a great way to get involved in YFC. The Show Floats Competition is the highlight of the Staffordshire YFC Competitions Calendar, and with the theme of Disney, the main ring is going to be a spectacular sight of classic films and characters. Any member who joins on the night of 18th April will receive either a Free Show Dance Ticket (16 years and over) or a Joules Sale Ticket (10 – 15 years.) We can’t wait to welcome lots of new members along.”
To get involved in Staffordshire YFC, contact the County Organiser, Julia Taylor on 01785 248645 or email organiser@staffyoungfarmers.org.uk.
Saturday 23rd March saw 12 teams from the County travel to the Ridware area for the silage competition. Each team had to judge and score three clamps of silage on three different farms along with giving reasons back to the master judge. The results on the day were:
1st – Stone YFC (Dan Weaver, Ed Johnson & Luke Gallimore)
2nd – Leek YFC (Lizzy James, Isobel Proctor & Meg Barnes)
3rd – Eccleshall YFC (Dan Bowers, Paul Brown & Harry Bowers)
After the competition, competitors enjoyed a well deserved carvery at The Bull & Spectacles, a big thank you goes to ACT Wessex Animal Health who kindly sponsored the Competition.
