Staffordshire Young Farmers Clubs are pleased to announce that their Public Speaking Competitions Day which is held on Sunday 25th November, is being supported this year by Reaseheath College, one of the UK’s leading specialist land-based colleges based in Nantwich, Cheshire. The Competitions Day sees eight competitions organised by the Competitions Committee, for the members of the ten clubs across Staffordshire to compete in.
For the younger age group, there is a Junior Reading and Junior Speaking Competitions which for many of our members, is the first experience of public speaking they will ever have. Our Intermediate members aged between 17 – 21 years, will compete in a Brainstrust Competition, which involved a team of four working together engaging in a lively debate on topical subjects to impress the judges with their quick thinking and current affairs knowledge. As well as Public Speaking, The Member of the Year Competition will also be held, split into two age categories for members aged 17 and under and 18 and over. All members are asked to submit a synopsis form prior to the day and will then be interviewed by a panel of judges. The younger members are also asked to present a PowerPoint on their experiences both in YFC and outside of the organisation and for the older members, they have a “live” interview on stage by the judges as well. Situations Vacant is the final more “formal” competition of the day, which involves members applying for a job of their choice, completing their CV and submitting a formal application. On the day of the competition they are then interviewed for that job.
Reaseheath College said ‘Reaseheath College, one of the UK’s leading land-based colleges, is delighted to continue to build on our existing relationship by supporting Staffordshire Young Farmers. Engaging with all areas of the farming community is something we take very seriously at Reaseheath and nurturing young talent through young farmers is essential as they are the future of the industry.’
To round off a busy day of competitions, two more “entertaining” ones will be held. Firstly, a Ballroom Dancing competition, where teams will be practising to perform a Show Dance to open a show (like Strictly Come Dancing). The routine is to be between 3-5 minutes long and must contain four different dance genres. In addition to this, the dancing competition will be followed by The Show Choir Competition, where teams of up to twenty members will be singing two pieces to impress the judges with their finely tuned voices.
Richard Mottershead, County Chairman said “As a charitable organisation we are reliant on sponsorship and donations in order to continue to provide a great variety of competitions and opportunities to our members. Therefore, we really appreciate Reaseheath College chosing to support Staffordshire YFC, and the future generation of the rural community in this way.”
All results from the various competitions are announced on the day and awards will be made to those coming out on top. Each competition is part of the National Federation of Young Farmers Clubs Competitions Programme and the teams or individuals placed in first or second place will progress to the next round of competitions which is organised for the West Midlands Area, competing against four other counties.
For full details about the day including information sheets and a timetable, please click here
9 teams travelled to Leek High School to take part in the Mixed Hockey Competition, the results were:
1st – Lichfield YFC
2nd – Eccleshall YFC
3rd – Leek YFC
18 teams from around the County braved the rain and took part in the County Football competition at Powerleague. The results from the day were:
Male – 1st Waterhouses A, 2nd Eccleshall A, 3rd Uttoxeter A
Female – 1st Waterhouses, 2nd Eccleshall, 3rd Leek
This years competition was held by kind permission of Sargeants at Bramshall, results for the evening were:
Junior Team – 1st Waterhouses YFC, 2nd Chase YFC, 3rd Leek YFC
Intermediate Team – 1st Eccleshall A YFC, 2nd Leek YFC, 3rd Uttoxeter A JNFU
Senior Team – 1st Eccleshall A YFC, 2nd Uttoxeter A JNFU, 3rd Leek YFC
Overall Team – 1st Leek YFC, 2nd Waterhouses YFC, 3rd Uttoxeter A JNFU
Staffordshire County Federation of Young Farmers Clubs (SCFYFC) is about to join in a National celebration to shout about just what their organisation is all about! SCFYFC, who have been affiliated to the National Federation of Young Farmers Clubs (NFYFC) since 1952, has ten active clubs across the county, and had a total of 680 members aged between 10 – 26 years of age during the year 2017/18. As the Clubs started their new membership year on 1st September this year, many evenings joining up new and existing members as well as Club AGM’s have been held. All the evenings have been extremely well attended with many clubs have more than one member standing for positions of responsibility.
As a democratic and membership led organisation, SCFYFC can offer young people living in and around rural communities of Staffordshire a host of opportunities and competitions to get involved in, all for the princely sum of around £45 per year! And don’t worry, you don’t have to be a farmer – in fact you don’t have to know anything about farming, all you need is a sense of adventure and a love of the countryside! Our members come from all walks of life including Receptionists, Hairdressers, Dog Groomers, IT Consultants, Students, Teachers, Chefs… the list is endless! Led by young people, for young people, SCFYFC provides anyone aged 10 to 26 with a fantastic chance to meet lifelong friends, learn new skills, make a real difference to the local community and even travel the world!
During the year, Staffordshire YFC holds a varied Competitions Programme which can lead to Area and National Finals competing against fellow members across the county. Competitions on the calendar this year include Rugby, Football, Netball, Cookery, Darts, Fence Erecting, Floral Art, Raft Races plus many more. At the recent National Finals of the NFYFC Floral Art Competition, our winning senior member, Phillippa Bourne of Stone YFC took 3rd place in this highly competitive competition, which is a brilliant achievement. The highlight for many of the members in Staffordshire YFC, is the Annual Rally which is a day filled with over 40 competitions and the County Show where all clubs showcase themselves on a Show Float which is paraded in the main ring. There is also an exciting and unique YFC Travel programme, via the National Office, that includes homestays and working holidays – as well as a fun ski trip in January. Full support is given to any members wishing to apply for these opportunities. Training and learning opportunities also play an integral part of the YFC Calendar, with all clubs putting on evenings including Team Building, Good Communicators and Safe Driving.
Staffordshire YFC have certainly packed a lot of community work and fundraising into the last 12 months, with clubs coming together to raise funds for Young Minds, the leading mental health charity for young people. At the County AGM in November, County Chairman Richard Mottershead will be presenting a cheque for over £7000 to Young Minds, which was raised with various sponsored activities and events including Stone YFC who climbed to the top of Snowdonia, carrying the giant Oatcake Baton which has been parading around the County as part of the charity fundraiser.
Julia Taylor, County Organiser for Staffordshire YFC said “If you’re interested in becoming a part of this unique organisation, And don’t worry, you don’t have to be a farmer – in fact you don’t have to know anything about farming, all you need is a sense of adventure and a love of the countryside!”
Staffordshire YFC ten active clubs across the county are Abbotsholme YFC (Closed School Club); Ashley YFC, Chase YFC, Cheadle YFC, Eccleshall YFC, Leek YFC, Lichfield YFC, Stone YFC, Uttoxeter JNFU and Waterhouses YFC. Social media will be very active with all clubs this week as they celebrate #trueyfc during the National Young Farmers Week explaining just what YFC means to our members.
Sarah Bourne, who works as a Teaching Assistant is also the Club Secretary of Cheadle YFC for the second year running. She said “Growing up on a farm can be very busy, unfortunately I started young farmers at the age of 21… I so wish that I start at the age of 10! The amount of confidence it has given me and the opportunities have been amazing! Without young farmers, I wouldn’t know who I know now, wouldn’t have the skills or the knowledge. There are so many reasons why you should join young farmers… I wish I had joined earlier so I’m definitely taking the time now to make the most of my years of being a young farmer!”
For further details on joining one of the clubs, please do not hesitate to contact Julia Taylor on 01785 248645 or email [email protected] . The County Facebook page also has up to date information about forthcoming events across the clubs too.
Well done to all competitors who took part over the weekend, Chase YFC and Lichfield YFC represented Staffordshire in the Cookery Competiiton.
In the Floral Art the following members took part.
Junior – James Robinson (Lichfield YFC) & Lucy Clayton (Uttoxeter JNFU)
Intermediate – Hannah Britland (Uttoxeter JNFU)
Senior – Phillippa Bourne (Stone YFC)
Well done to Phillippa Bourne who came 3rd in her class!
Four teams braved the wet weather to take part in the County Fence Erecting Competition, this year kindly hosted by Uttoxeter District Agricultural Society. The results were:
1st – Chase YFC, 2nd – Uttoxeter JNFU, 3rd – Eccleshall YFC, 4th – Waterhouses YFC
A prize fund of over £700 is on offer in the Young Farmers’ Stock and Carcase judging Competitions at this year’s English Winter Fair, Stafford, thanks to backing by AHDB (Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board – Beef and Lamb). Teams from across the Country will be competing in the Stock and Carcase Judging competitions, held at the English Winter Fair on Sunday 18th November along with the NFYFC Live and Carcase Judging two day competition over the weekend.
The teams made up of 8 members will be judging Live Beef, Live Lamb, Lamb and Pork Carcase on Sunday 18th November from 9.30am. The Secretary for the Young Farmer Classes, Mrs Julia Taylor explained, “Young Farmers will be able to judge the Beef and Pork Carcase in the purpose-built Carcass Hall, which is a fantastic facility available to us thanks to support from AHDB and the show’s organisers, the Staffordshire & Birmingham Agricultural Society.”
Young Farmers will pit the skills picked up in county rounds of the YFC’s Stock and Carcase competitions against others in this nationwide event to secure prizes. “It is a great way for members to test their skill at judging stock on the hoof and on the hook. Each team is given 10 minutes to assess stock and then two minutes to give reasons to the panel of judges for their choices. It is always a popular date on the YFC calendar and well supported by counties across the country” adds Mrs Taylor.
In addition to cash prizes YFC teams will also compete for the Birmingham Agricultural Exhibition Society silver cup for the team accumulating most points which last year went to Warwickshire YFC.
This year again there will be a 3 course meal being held in the Boden Room, exclusively for YFC members followed by entry into the Herdsman’s Supper Disco entry for only £10 on the evening before the competitions, Saturday 17th November. This evening is also kindly supported by Bagshaws Auctioneers.
Young Farmers attending the event will also be able to see the Show’s championships take place in the main arena in Bingley Hall as well as witness the spectacle of the grand auction of prize-winning animals from both the live arena and Carcass Hall on Sunday afternoon.
For details on how to enter your County team, please click here
Staffordshire Young Farmers Clubs (YFC) held a very successful Charity Beer Festival outside their YFC Office which is based on the County Showground at Stafford on Saturday 30th June. The Federation were blessed with the run of warm weather and festival goers basked in sunshine as they listened to singers and bands and enjoyed some of the 15 beers and ciders on offer. The event was held to raise money for Young Minds, the leading mental health charity for young people and was the idea of Richard Mottershead, County Chairman of Staffordshire YFC.
The Clubs in Staffordshire YFC have been fundraising for Young Minds since March this year, with a campaign entitled #oatcakeontour! The campaign involves a Giant 4 ft round Oatcake (made from wood), which “toured” around the 11 YFC Clubs in the county. Each club has held a fundraising event, ranging from Quizzes, BBQ’s, a Whist Drive and even taking the Oatcake for a ride on a Steam Engine! Leek YFC raised a grand total of £1200 by holding a Quiz Night back in April along with braving the blazing sunshine on Saturday, and walking 26 miles down to the Beer Festival at Stafford from Leek. With some sore feet, the members were glad to take off their boots and enjoy a chilled beverage.
The final club to host the #oatcakeontour, Stone YFC, went one step further – literally! They met at the County Showground on Saturday morning at 3am, leaving Stafford in a minibus and heading to Wales to tackle Mount Snowdon – complete with the wooden Oatcake which had some customised handles fitted to make the task of taking it to the top a little easier! Again, they braved the warm weather and were grateful of the breeze at the peak. Stone YFC raised £1000 on their mission and were very happy to reach the final destination of the Charity Beer Festival back in Stafford on Saturday evening.
Richard Mottershead, County Chairman said “It was so great to see Staffordshire YFC members of all ages past, present and future come along to support us and Young Minds. We had a fantastic family fun day with a bouncy castle, ice cream, live music and a great selection inside the beer tent, so there was something for everyone. I am so proud to call myself the County Chairman Staffordshire YFC. All the club’s have rallied together to raise money for the #oatcakeontour campaign. It was brilliant to welcome members from all over the country coming to enjoy the music and atmosphere including members from Cornwall, Herefordshire, Lancashire, Cumbria and Wales whilst they were competing at the National Federation of Young Farmers Clubs Competitions Day.”
Championing mental health is one of the campaigns which the National Federation of Young Farmers Clubs encourage YFC counties to do. Their campaign, Rural Plus, provides information and tools to encourage YFC to become a strong support network for rural young people who may experience rural isolation and mental health issues. An evening is available for all clubs to hold, which aims to raise awareness of mental health and rural isolation issues that young people may face living in rural areas and where to turn for support.
Combined with the event on Saturday, Staffordshire Young Farmers have raised over £6500 for Young Minds with their campaign. The money will be presented to Young Minds at the SCFYFC County AGM which is being held on Friday 9th November.
For all the photos from the day, click here
Teams from around Staffordshire YFC took part in the West Midlands Area of YFC’s Male and Female Tug of War Competitions at the Three Counties Show on Sunday 17th June. Also teams took part in the Junior (12 – 17 years) Tug of War which was also held on the same day including a team from the newly formed Cheadle YFC.
Following a great competitions, the results were as follows:
Junior Competition: 3rd Place – Staffordshire A (Waterhouses YFC)
Ladies Competition: 1st Place – Staffordshire A (Stone YFC), 3rd Place – Staffordshire B (Eccleshall YFC)
Mens Competition: 1st Place – Staffordshire A (Waterhouses YFC)
The teams from Waterhouses and Stone will now go forward to take on the rest of the Country at the NFYFC Finals which are held on Saturday 4th August at Tenbury Show in Worcestershire.
