The Staffordshire countryside saw 82 festive tractors take to the road in a charity Christmas convoy on 8 December.
Arranged by South Staffs Water and Staffordshire Young Farmers Clubs, the cavalcade of tractors were lit up with Christmas lights and some even had an inflated Santa along with a rotating Christmas Tree! They travelled a 20-mile route through the villages of Hamstall Ridware, Blithbury, Abbots Bromley, Blithfield and Hill Ridware.
The event was held in aid of three charities; WaterAid, Staffordshire Young Farmers Clubs and The Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution and has raised over £3600 so far, giving each charity over £1200 each.
Nina Yiannoukos-Benton, senior catchment advisor at South Staffs Water, said:
“It was amazing to be involved in arranging this tractor run. We were so pleased at the numbers taking part and to see the smiles on the people’s faces as we drove by was wonderful. It was so much fun and we raised more money than we expected too. We’ve already had people asking if we’ll do it again next year.”
Julia Taylor, County Organiser at Staffordshire Federation of Young Farmers Clubs, said:
“The Christmas Tractor Run was a first of its kind for us to organise, working alongside South Staffs Water. We were completely overwhelmed by the amount of people who came out to support and give generously in the local villages as the convoy passed through and the feedback from the tractor drivers, general public and all those involved has been really positive which is a very good for the agricultural industry.”
After the run was completed, the drivers and many supporters enjoyed an evening of socialising at Cowley Hill Farm, Hamstall Ridware by kind permission of the Roobottom Family. A band, Prosody, played some great Christmas tunes as well as classics and the awards for Best Dressed Tractor and Best Dressed Drivers were made.
Following the great success of this year’s Tractor Run, it is hoped that a similar event may be held again in the future. To make a contribution to this year’s Tractor Run charities, a JustGiving site has been set up https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/sswyfctractorrun for donations to still be made.
To view a selection of photos from the event, click here
Over 150 Staffordshire YFC members took part in 10 competitions, the results were as follows:
Junior Reading – 1st – Uttoxeter JNFU, 2nd – Waterhouses YFC & 3rd – Cheadle YFC
Junior Speaking – 1st – Eccleshall YFC, 2nd – Leek YFC & 3rd – Uttoxeter JNFU
Intermediate Call my Bluff – 1st – Cheadle YFC, 2nd – Leek YFC & 3rd – Eccleshall A YFC
Senior MACE Debating – 1st – Eccleshall YFC & 2nd – Uttoxeter JNFU
Situations Vacant – 1st – Amy Boothby (Uttoxeter JNFU), 2nd – Andrew Gray (Lichfield YFC) & 3rd – Ruth Harvey (Waterhouses YFC)
Male Member of the Year (18 & Over) – 1st – Phil Wilson (Uttoxeter JNFU), 2nd – James Freeman (Chase YFC), 3rd – Luke Gallimore (Stone YFC)
Female Member of the Year (18 & Over) – 1st – Polly Baines (Lichfield YFC), 2nd – Kate Oakes (Chase YFC), 3rd – Rebecca Phillips (Uttoxeter JNFU)
Member of the Year (17 & Under) – 1st – Maisie Tinwell (Leek YFC), 2nd – Scott Carter (Chase YFC) & 3rd – Ruth Harvey (Waterhouses YFC)
Commercial Dancing – 1st – Ashley YFC, 2nd – Cheadle YFC & 3rd – Eccleshall YFC
Cheerleading – 1st – Eccleshall YFC, 2nd – Leek YFC & 3rd – Cheadle YFC
Somerset YFC members were 12 points ahead of Gloucestershire YFC taking the top spot for Overall Team at the English Winter Fair YFC Stock and Carcase Judging Competition held on Sunday 17th November. The members, fought off a very high standard of competition from over 140 young farmers’ members across 22 teams entered into this year’s English Winter Fair YFC Stock and Carcase Judging classes. The one-day competition was hailed a great success with members praising the venue, organisation and format of the competitions thanks to Staffordshire Young Farmers members and supporters who all give up their time to judge, steward and assist on the day. Staffordshire YFC County Organiser, Julia Taylor said “We had 22 teams entered from 16 counties across England and Wales this year which is the highest we have seen for over ten years. The popularity of our competitions is strong amongst the members and they enjoy the quality stock and carcases available to judge as well as the facilities at the County Showground in Stafford.”
The English Winter Fair took place at the weekend, 16th – 17th November and the YFC classes were kindly sponsored by AHDB (Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board) with very generous prize monies on offer. Young Farmers were able to judge Live Lamb and Beef Classes and Beef and Pork Carcase Classes thanks to support from the show organiser, Staffordshire & Birmingham Agricultural Society along with AHDB.
In the Live Lambs class, judged in Bingley Hall, with the lambs kindly provided by Mrs Madders & Mr Johnson, the highest scoring Senior Competitor was awarded jointly to Dyfan Breeze of Montgomery YFC and Elin Harvard of Brecknock YFC who both gained the maximum points of 100 in this class. The Overall Intermediate Competitor was Megan Phillips of Herefordshire YFC with 91 points. The highest scoring team in this class was awarded to another welsh team, Glamorgan YFC, with Michael Burley and Ethan Williams scoring a combined total of 176 points.
The Live Beef class was judged in the stalls, with some fine cattle provided by the very supportive exhibitors at the show. The highest scoring Senior Competitor was Rob Powell of Brecknock YFC, scoring 89 points. In the Intermediate Section, Ellis Parry of Gwent YFC came first with 83 points. As a team, Gwent YFC took first place in this class, with members Jamie Davies and Ellis Parry scoring a combined total of 167 points.
The Carcase Classes were all judged in the excellent Carcase Hall facility with carcasses very kindly provided by Messrs Bradshaw Bros. In the Beef Carcase class, the Overall Senior Competitor was won jointly by three members, Charlotte Scott of Somerset YFC, Adam Ringrose of Leicestershire YFC and Marita Warner-King of Gloucestershire YFC who all gained a total of 94 points. The Overall Intermediate Competitor was Molly Phillips of Worcestershire YFC with 89 points. The Overall team in this section was won by the team from Gloucestershire YFC, with members Marita Warner-King and Rhondda Warner-King who achieved a combined total of 179 points.
The final class of the day was the Pork Carcase Class. The Overall Senior Competitor was won by Chris Potter of Shropshire YFC with 97 points. The Overall Intermediate Competitor was Thomas Swancott of Radnor YFC with 89 points. The Overall Team in this final class was won by Hywel Watson and Thomas Swancott of Radnor YFC with a combined total of 184 points.
The Michael Bradshaw Award for the Overall Stockjudging Team was awarded to Gwent YFC with Somerset YFC in second place and Brecknock YFC in third place. The Michael Bradshaw Award for the Overall Carcase Judging Team was awarded to Gloucestershire YFC with Warwickshire YFC taking second place and third place awarded jointly to Radnor YFC and Worcestershire YFC.
After a full day of judging, The Birmingham Agricultural Exhibition Society Silver Challenge Cup, awarded for the Overall Team on the day went to Somerset YFC after they gained a grand total of 643 points in all the classes. They were followed by Gloucestershire YFC in second place with 631 points and in third place, Brecknock YFC with 630 points.
Stockjudging and Carcase judging competitions remain a very important and competitive sector in the Young Farmers Federations across the country, as this day has demonstrated so well. The facilities at the English Winter Fair are ideal for YFC to showcase this. Next year, the English Winter Fair committee will continue to host these competitions for YFC members and looks forward to welcoming the National Federation of Young Farmers Clubs again, to take part in this very successful show, with their Live and Carcase Judging Competition Finals, which were also held again at the Show this year.
To view photos from the awards, please click here
To view a full list of the Awards, please click Here
To view a full copy of all the results, please click here
The Staffordshire countryside will see around 100 festive tractors take to the road in a charity Christmas convoy this December.
Arranged by South Staffs Water and Staffordshire Young Farmers Clubs, the cavalcade of tractors will be lit up with Christmas lights on the evening of 8 December and will travel a 20-mile route through the villages of Hamstall Ridware, Abbots Bromley, Blithfield and Colton.
The event is being held in aid of three charities; WaterAid, Staffordshire Young Farmers Clubs and The Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution.
Nina Yiannoukos-Benton, senior catchment advisor at South Staffs Water, said:
“We work really closely with the Staffordshire Farmers, to make sure their work doesn’t affect the quality of the river water and in turn, the water that we treat and provide to our customers, so it’s amazing to be involved in arranging this tractor run. It’s going to be a lot of festive fun, as well as raising money for three important charities. We want everyone to get involved; come and watch the convoy along the route or join the festivities at the finish held at Cowley Hill Farm, Hamstall Ridware.”
To find out more, book a place in the convoy, please click here
11 teams raced the night away at Fast Lane, Fenton for the annual Go Karting Competition. The results on the night were:
1st Eccleshall A
2nd Uttoxeter
3rd Ashley
On Friday 8th November, Staffordshire County Federation of Young Farmers Clubs (YFC) held their County AGM in the Ingestre Suite, County Showground, Stafford. The evening was kindly supported by Pickering and Butters Solicitors, a firm of Staffordshire Solicitors who were founded over a century ago, with offices based in Stafford and Rugeley. The County AGM was attended by over 250 invited guests and members of the Federation and is the most prestigious meeting of the Staffordshire YFC year.
Polly Baines, gave her County Chairman’s report on last year of Staffordshire YFC activities, highlighting her favourite memories and moments along the way. Polly, a member of Lichfield Young Farmers said “No year as a County Chairman could ever be called boring or easy. You must plan ahead and have support around you from as many directions as possible. So long as you have passion and drive to want to achieve something and have fun at the same time, you can make anything happen. I have thoroughly enjoyed my time as County Chairman, thank you to all the members and everyone who has supported my year in post.”
During Polly’s report, she presented a cheque for £8000 to Cancer Research following monies raised from a ‘Give Cancer the Boot’ Charity Lunch held in May. Polly also gave a thank you and goodbye memento to The Bishop of Stafford, Bishop Geoff Annas, who is retiring from his post at the end of the month and who has been very supportive during his time in Staffordshire to the clubs and members in Staffordshire YFC.
It was reported during the meeting that Staffordshire YFC has 601 members aged 10 – 26 years. The members have benefited from taking part in some amazing charity work and playing an active part in their local communities. From Eccleshall YFC raising over £10,000 from a Charity Speed Shear with over 1200 people attending to Uttoxeter JNFU raising over £1200 for Cancer Research with members having their hair cut for a ‘Brave the Shave’. These are just two examples of the many ways in which the eleven clubs in Staffordshire, all of whom are charities themselves, take time and plan events in order to raise funds for other charities across the Country. In total this year, the Clubs in Staffordshire have raised over £17,000 for worthwhile causes.
Philip Bourne was elected as County President for his first year. He has been very involved in Stone YFC as two of his daughters were both members of the club, serving on the Clubs Advisory Committee and as their Club President for a number of years. Philip, on accepting the position, said “I am very much looking forward the next two years and hope to encourage clubs to engage with more young people and increase the membership of the Federation.”
George Hawley was elected the Senior Deputy President. George is a former Staffs YFC County Chairman after time as a very active member of Cheadle YFC which in recent years he has been the Club President following his very hands-on involvement in the reformation of the Club. George, on accepting the position, said “Young Farmers has always been a very large part of my life and I am really looking forward to working with Philip and the rest of the County Officer team in the coming year. I am also looking forward to getting out and meeting the Club Members, which I will be doing lots this year as one of the Club Efficiency Judges.”
After a busy three years as County President, David Heminsley retired from his position. He said “It has been a great honour and privilege to be your President, and I trust Philip and George will get as much from the role in the coming years, and I wish them both all the very best for their terms as President with Staffordshire Federation of Young Farmers Clubs.”
David was presented with gifts to mark his term in office, from members and supporters of the federation.
The presentations of awards were made by Mr Robert Bourne, Staffordshire & Birmingham Agricultural Society Chairman, to the following Clubs and Individuals:
Most Outstanding County Officer: Beckie Phillips & Emily Phillips, Social & Funding Chairman
David Palij Award: Awarded to the Club that has done the most for charity/community work during the last 12 months
Winner: Eccleshall YFC; Runners up – Uttoxeter JNFU
Manifold Marketing Award: Awarded to the Club who best promotes their Club and engagement in Club, County & Community Events.
Winner: Eccleshall YFC, Runner-up: Uttoxeter JNFU
The Richard Mottershead Club Programme Award: Awarded to the Club gaining the highest number of points within the Club Efficiency Competition for the Club Programme section.
Winner: Cheadle YFC; Runners up: Uttoxeter JNFU
Scrapbook Award: Awarded to the Club who produces the most interesting and unique scrapbook based on the activities of their own Club over the past membership year.
Winner: Leek YFC, Runner Up: Ashley YFC
Most Improved Club – Competitions Cup: Awarded to the Club that has achieved the highest improvement in points for competitions from the 2017/2018 year
Winner: Ashley YFC; Runner Up: Leek YFC
Small Clubs Trophy: Awarded to one of the five smallest Clubs in the County with regard to membership, that has achieved the most points throughout the year for competitions.
Winner: Chase YFC; Runner Up: Lichfield YFC
Mr Ken Unwin MBE Memorial Cup: Awarded to the Club who most improves in Public Speaking, Stock Judging, Carcase Judging and Tug of War.
Winner: Cheadle YFC; Joint Runners Up: Abbotsholme YFC & Uttoxeter JNFU
Overall Competitions Cup: Presented to the club with the most points for the Competitions that have been held for the last 12 months:
Winner: Uttoxeter JNFU; Runner Up: Eccleshall YFC
W.H.D. Hobson Cup: Awarded to the Club with the highest increase in membership.
Winner: Ashley YFC, Runner Up: Uttoxeter JNFU
Newsletter Shield: For the best contribution to the Young Farmers’ Book of the Year
Joint Winners: Chase YFC & Waterhouses YFC; Runner Up – Uttoxeter JNFU
Mr & Mrs W.A. Taylor Senior Merit Award: Awarded to the most outstanding individual at Club or County level was presented Hannah Britland of Uttoxeter JNFU. Hannah has been a very active Competitions Secretary and ensured they have had not only one but more often two teams in every competition. She organised practices, encouraged younger members and gone well and truly above and beyond to make sure everyone was included. This member has been very active in Staffordshire YFC for over 10 years and during this time their positivity and enthusiasm for the organisation is something which we would love to bottle!
Junior Merit Award: This is presented to the most outstanding junior individual at Club or County level was presented to Lizzy James of leek YFC. Lizzy has been a consistent and loyal support, acting in a mature and reliable way when working with their Club Advisory to overcome challenges within the Club. This member is not afraid to get stuck in, get their hands dirty and do whatever needs doing behind the scenes. Importantly, this member is well respected by her fellow members and the supporters of the club.
YFC Travel Certificates are awarded to club members who had travelled through the YFC Travel Programme. Certificates were awarded to: Grace Gibbs (Waterhouses YFC) – New Zealand, Lizzie Chapman (Ashley YFC) – Austria, Michael Grigg (Stone YFC), Sam Fowell (Eccleshall YFC) & Amy Nicholls (Ashley YFC) all travelled to Costa Rica.
YFA Travel Award – Grace Gibbs of Waterhouses YFC, for her report and presentation following her visit to New Zealand on the C Alma Baker trip.
Junior Stockjudging Cup: The winners were Chase YFC and the runners-up were Uttoxeter JNFU.
Intermediate Stockjudging Cup: The winners were Eccleshall YFC and runner-up was Uttoxeter JNFU.
Senior Stockjudging Cup: The winner was Uttoxeter JNFU and the runner-up was Eccleshall YFC.
Overall Stockjudging Cup: The winner was Uttoxeter JNFU and the runner-up was Eccleshall YFC.
The final awards of the evening are the most prestigious to receive and are judged throughout the year as a “Club Efficiency” Competition, which encapsulates all aspects of a YFC Club. The aim of the competition is to encourage members and Club Officers to work together as an effective team for the benefit of all. Judges look for all aspects of how the clubs are run and hope to see good club administration and record keeping, strong leadership and governance and active promotion of the clubs through publicity and community engagement. They also want to see teamwork, ideas and enthusiasm from all club members. From this competition, the following awards were presented:
Most Outstanding Chairman: Winner: Kat Clarkson, Cheadle YFC
Runner-up: Harry Bowers, Eccleshall YFC
Most Outstanding Secretary: Winner: Amy Boothby, Uttoxeter JNFU
Runner-up: Emily Cartmail, Eccleshall YFC
Most Outstanding Treasurer: Winner: Hannah Norton, Uttoxeter JNFU
Runner-up: Nicole Brereton, Ashley YFC
Most Outstanding Club Leader: Winner: Jake Manning, Lichfield YFC
Runner-up: Mel Bexon, Uttoxeter JNFU
Club Efficiency Shield: Winner: Uttoxeter JNFU
Runner-up: Eccleshall YFC
As can be seen from the above young people between the ages of 10 and 26, experience fun and excitement, whilst enjoying competitions, discos, sports, travel, meeting new friends and learning new and different skills. For photos from the evening, please click here
Staffordshire County Federation of Young Farmers Clubs (SCFYFC) took to the stage at Abbotsholme School Theatre, just outside of Rocester, on Friday 1st and Saturday 2nd November with their very own production, entitled “Pantomime Pandemonium!” There were past and present members of the federation involved in the production, making up a cast of over 50 altogether! One of the Federation’s County Vice President’s, Helen Phillips wrote and directed the pantomime which included a “mash-up” of characters include “Baby Bear”, Robin Hood, Snow White and a number of “Dames” including the classic “Widow Twanky” who were all trying to escape the evil clutches of the “Dentist” and his “Dental Nurses!” Helen’s encouragement and guidance for the members, many of whom had never been on stage before, was invaluable. All the cast have loved performing on stage giving them all a confidence boost and with an age range of 11 years to 60 years plus, it has bonded the generations of young farmers from across the ten clubs in the County.
Polly Baines, County Chairman said “We enjoyed two fabulous performances that bought members past and present from across the county together. We all had so much fun in the rehearsal nights every Sunday since August as well. I really loved seeing our members showcase themselves and try something a little different again to the usual YFC activities. It’s definitely built our younger members confidence and teamwork skills!”
The federation are very grateful to Abbotsholme School who very kindly supported the event with the generous loan of their theatre and all equipment to create a great show. Both performances sold out each night with a full audience of members and parents, generating a surplus to help the federation’s fundraising for the year. As a registered charity, Staffordshire YFC is reliant on fundraising events like this to generate an income to continue to provide the current level of service and support to its members and clubs throughout the year.
To view photos from the evening, please click here
Teams from Clubs all over the County travelled to Powerleague, Stoke for the annual Male & Female 5 A Side Football Competition. The wet weather had cleared and the sun shone all day!!
The results were:
Male – 1st – Cheadle YFC, 2nd – Uttoxeter B JNFU, 3rd – Eccleshall YFC
Female – 1st – Waterhouses YFC, 2nd – Cheadle YFC, 3rd – Leek YFC
9 teams travelled to Abbotsholme School for the annual Mixed Hockey competition, the results were:
1st – Lichfield YFC
2nd – Eccleshall YFC
3rd – Uttoxeter A JNFU
Click HERE for photos from the day
On Saturday 12th and Sunday 13th October, over 20 newly elected Club Officers across the Staffordshire Young Farmers Clubs (YFC) attended a very full weekend of training, learning new skills and meeting their fellow officers who hold the positions of Club Chairman, Club Secretary and Club Treasurer. The weekend was funded by The National Lottery Community Fund and The Rural Youth Trust Grant and is designed to introduce the specifics of what is involved in a Club Officer role including best safeguarding practice, risk assessments and leadership, looking at the impact and value that their youth-work within the clubs can have and how to inspire their members and fellow officers to become good communicators. Also being able to enjoy and understand the benefits of teamwork, become more organised and build their confidence in their role. There was also a session held where each club specifically looked at their current practices within the clubs, called “YFC on Track” which has been introduced by the National Federation of Young Farmers Clubs (NFYFC) Personal Development Steering group, to check that the club officers and clubs recognize and meet the minimum expectations to run their own club, operating in line with their constitution, Charity Commission guidelines and best practice.
The weekend of training was delivered by Polly Baines, Club Chairman; Julia Taylor, County Organiser and Beckie Phillips, one of the trained trainers within Staffordshire YFC. Alongside Polly, Julia and Beckie, the federation also employed the services of Matt Turner and Jane Reynolds, both Development Workers from Staffordshire Council for Voluntary Youth Services, who delivered a bespoke session about Youthwork including leadership styles, active listening and challenging behaviour. Within the two-day programme, Julia Taylor, the County Designated Safeguarding Lead also delivered a session about Safeguarding in YFC Clubs and the correct procedures to follow.
The Club Officers Training Weekend is one of 5 training opportunities offered to all new Club Officers as they start in their voluntary role, which is a great responsibility for the young leaders with a vast club membership age range of 10 to 26 years, in Staffordshire YFC. The Club Officers are the vital point of communication and contact to those members for the County Office and it is essential that they feel well supported in their role. The feedback from those who participated in the weekend has been very positive, with Club Officers agreeing that they would recommend the weekend to future Club Officers and that they now feel more confident for the year ahead, which will make a positive impact on their club and members.
To help the Club Officers to keep themselves organised, the Staffordshire YFA (Young Farmers Ambassadors), which is a subcommittee of Staffordshire YFC, also presented them with large hessian bags to keep their books and paperwork in. The Staffordshire YFA is made up of current and past YFC Travellers who help current members to apply for the various YFC Travel opportunities available via NFYFC.
Staffordshire YFC has ten clubs operating in the county, with over 600 members aged between 10 – 26 years. Each club provides a weekly programme of regular activities ranging from sports, public speaking, farm walks and trips away. Members come from all walks of life including nursery nurses, agronomists, schoolteachers, chefs, students and farm workers. The name “Young Farmers” can sometimes be misleading, but anyone who is keen to get involved and become a member can be reassured that absolutely no farming background is required – not even a pair of wellies!
Young people who have taken up voluntary leadership positions within Staffordshire YFC have often progressed into taking up other roles of responsibility within their own community, as they have built up their confidence and knowledge to do so, after their YFC experience.
To view photos from the weekend, please click here
