Staffordshire YFC are very pleased to announce that there are two places available for The Oxford Farming Conference 2019 again, kindly supported by The Staffordshire and Birmingham Agricultural Society. Members are invited to send over their application, which is quite simply a piece of written work entitled “Why I should be chosen to attend The Oxford Farming Conference” in no more than 500 words.
The deadline for applications is Monday 17th September 2018 and the successful members will be announced at the County Executive Committee Meeting which is held on Thursday 20th September 2018.
For full details on how to apply please click HERE
Full details about the Oxford Farming Conference, which runs from 3rd – 4th January 2019, can be found on their website here.
Staffordshire Young Farmers take the main ring at the County Show by storm again this year, on Thursday 31st May. They held their annual Young Farmers’ Float Competition with the theme this year being “British Sitcoms”, which meant for plenty of construction, colour and fun on each float as they created some of the most well know sitcoms on TV! The sponsor of the competition, BD Fuels of Hixon kindly judged the floats before and during their journey into the main ring of the County Showground. This prestigious competition, the highlight of the YFC calendar and one of the most popular ran by Staffordshire Young Farmers, draws the largest crowd to the main ring when the floats, which have been worked on for many months, take to the parade. The Overall Float Competition was won by Uttoxeter Young Farmers who were depicting “Blackadder” on their float. It had plenty of characters dressed in full wartime costume and superb detailed scenery to match. Second place was awarded to Stone Young Farmers who recreated the classic sitcom, Porridge. Their float was two storey with the prison cells on both levels and plenty of “Fletcher” and “Godber” actors filling the float! In third place was Ashley Young Farmers whose float was “Dad’s Army” gave great scenery and young farmers dressed in boiler suit uniform! Fourth place was awarded to Chase YFC who had “Allo, Allo” as their theme. Some great costumes and their young members interpreted French/German based sitcom really well.
Stone Young Farmers were awarded the Best Name Board Shield for their well designed and colourful sign and they were closely followed by Uttoxeter Young Farmers as the runners up. This part of the competition was judged by Mr & Mrs R Bourne, Vice Chairman and Mr & Mrs R Nield, Vice President of the Staffordshire & Birmingham Agricultural Society.
Members on the Show Floats from all eleven clubs entertained the crowds and judges as they circled the Main Ring in glorious sunshine. The members thoroughly enjoy providing this entertainment to the general public and raising their profile. They also enjoyed cooling off with a great water fight at the end which is the most favourite part for the members.
Staffordshire YFC has had an amazing two days at this year’s County Show. Their “Magic & Mystery” themed marquee has been full with people over the two days as members have put on a full programme of activities and competitions for everyone to enjoy. County Chairman, Richard Mottershead commented that “We have had a great two days at the County Show promoting what YFC is all about. The Show Floats attracted a brilliant crowd of supporters of all ages. All the clubs have worked so hard towards this day and this has definitely paid off.”
Take a look at the photos HERE
All 11 clubs had been working for months putting together their floats to the theme ‘British Sitcoms’, the sun shone on the Thursday of Stafford County Show and the water fight was enjoyed by all. The results from the competition were:
Overall Float
1st – Uttoxeter JNFU, 2nd – Stone YFC, 3rd – Ashley YFC
Best name Board
1st – Stone YFC, 2nd – Uttoxeter JNFU
Please take a look at the photos HERE
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. 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 hard ground conditions, Waterhouses YFC men’s team beat Eccleshall YFC to the 1st place position. Eccleshall YFC were the runners-up and Stone YFC took 3rd.
For the ladies teams, Stone YFC stormed to victory coming in first place. The results ended with Stone 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 17th June.
The Wednesday of the County Show saw clubs from around the County compete for the Tug of War silverware, the results were:
Male
1st – Waterhouses YFC, 2nd – Eccleshall YFC, 3rd – Stone YFC
Female
1st – Stone YFC, 2nd – Eccleshall YFC, 3rd – Uttoxeter JNFU
Take a look at the photos HERE
All 11 Clubs took part in this years competition, each Club could use a 1m x 1m space to promote their Club, the winner were:
1st – Stone YFC
2nd – Waterhouses YFC
3rd – Ashley YFC
Last night, 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.
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, Laura Bull and Fred Allen commented that the eight acts they had judged were all absolutely fantastic and really gave the audience an evening of entertainment to remember.
After the acts had performed, the winners were announced as Leek YFC consisting of Meg Barnes, Holly Stanyer, Izzy Proctor and Lizzy James with their farming take on Dolly Parton ‘9-5’. Second place went to Emily and Eve Phillips of Uttoxeter JNFU with their highly entertaining sketch featuring Physic Sal with her not so physic powers! Third place was a very funny ventriquilm act from Rob Mollatt & Toby Hall of Uttoxeter JNFU.
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, Laura Elliott, NFYFC Vice Chairman and Dave Allen from Shires Vets 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 Stone YFC, with Waterhouses 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 Emily Phillips and Eve Phillips (Uttoxeter JNFU) who are travelling to Nepal; Amy Nicholls (Ashley YFC) and Frances Wright (Chase YFC) are attending the Autumn Seminar in Budapest, Beth Dennis (Chase YFC) travelling to Austria, Emily Cartmail (Eccleshall YFC) going on the European Rally, Grace Gibbs (Waterhouses YFC) awarded the C Alma Baker trip to New Zealand and Michael Grigg (Uttoxeter JNFU) travelling to Scotland. Last year’s travellers were also invited on stage to talk about their experiences.
The Leslie T Chester competition results were also presented for the best 500 word story using 15 specified words. First place went to Phillippa Bourne of Stone YFC, second place to Imogen Bloxham of Eccleshall YFC with Annabelle Lane of Abbotsholme YFC coming third.
During the evening, David Heminsley presented a YFC Rural Hub Business grant to James Ball of Waterhouses YFC who is setting up his own flock of pedigree Charolais sheep. Another cheque was presented from the federation who raised funds at their Harvest Festival Service back in October, for the Farming Community Network.
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.
Please click HERE for photos from the evening
Staffordshire Young Farmers Clubs are pleased to announce that their Annual General Meeting (AGM) which is held on Friday 9th November 2018, is being supported this year by Pickering and Butters, a firm of Staffordshire Solicitors who were founded over a century ago, with offices based in Stafford and Rugeley. The County AGM is attended by over 250 invited guests and members of the Federation and is the most prestigious meeting of the Staffordshire YFC year. A full report will given by the retiring County Chairman, Richard Mottershead about his year. In addition to this, numerous presentations which will be made to the award winners from the year 2017/18 around the County, including The “Most Outstanding Chairman” and “The Merit Award” which is given for the most outstanding contribution made by an individual to their club and/or county as well as club awards for Community Work and Overall Competitions. Richard will also be presenting a cheque to YoungMinds, the charity he chose during his year as County Chairman, to support via numerous fundraising activities around the clubs in Staffordshire.
Richard Mottershead, County Chairman said “As a charitable organisation we are reliant on sponsorship and donations in order to continue to provide the great service and opportunities to our members. Therefore, we really appreciate companies like Pickering and Butters, who have chosen to support Staffordshire YFC, and the future generation of the rural community in this way.”
Sean Spinetto of Pickering and Butters said “We benefit from a substantial and loyal list of clients in the farming industry and continue to work closely with them to ensure the ongoing success of their businesses. We are privileged to be given the opportunity to support the next generation of farmers in Staffordshire by sponsoring the AGM”
For any further information on any of our YFC Clubs, or for more information about supporting Staffordshire YFC, please contact Julia Taylor on 01785 248645 or email [email protected].
Launching the County Show this year, Staffordshire Young Farmers Clubs host the Pre Show Reception on Tuesday 29th May. At the reception, the YFC members from around the 11 clubs in Staffordshire put on “YFC’s Got Talent” which has in the past included Ballet Dancing acts, synchronized swimming and some very funny comedy sketches. This year’s reception is kindly sponsored by Abbotsholme School, Rocester along with Stafford Land Rover dealers and will be attended by over 150 sponsors, supporters and invited guests of the Federation.
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 “Magic and Mystery” there will be plenty to see and do. Attractions inside the marquee this year include “Splat the Rat”, “Milk the Cow”, Scarecrow Competition and Hook a Duck. As well as all this, there is the National Male and Female Tug of War Competitions in the Main Ring on the Wednesday evening and the Show Float Competitions to the theme of “British Sitcoms” on Thursday afternoon. Clubs have already started to build their floats and the general public will be entertained greatly by their versions of Dad’s Army, Fawlty Towers and even Gavin and Stacey, parading in the main ring.
The Show 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.
Making a special appearance at the County Show, the Federation’s Giant Wooden Oatcake, which is touring around the County will be available for a photo opportunity. The Oatcake started its tour with Ashley Young Farmers back in March and is currently with Ridware Young Farmers who are taking it on a Steam Engine Tour around Abbots Bromley this Sunday, 20th May. The purpose behind the giant Oatcake, is that whilst the Club has possession of it, the members hold an activity which will fundraise for Young Minds, the leading mental health charity for young people. So far, the clubs have raised in excess of £2800 towards this worthy cause, with six more clubs still left to hold their events. The most recent activity was Uttoxeter Young Farmers who peddled non-stop for 12 hours on an exercise bike at the County Annual Rally Day. The final event is a Beer Festival on 30th June being held outside the YFC Centre on the County Showground. The afternoon and evening event will feature 15 different beers, a bouncy castle for a family fun afternoon and live music in the evening.
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 we have many of our members who’d be happy to talk to you.
