Staffordshire YFC finished a very active couple of days at the Staffordshire County Show, by marking the occasion of the Platinum Jubilee Celebrations, with the lighting of a beacon, as HM The Queen is the Patron of The National Federation of Young Farmers Clubs (NFYFC.) The federation chose to light two beacons, which had been made by members at the Annual Rally held earlier in May. Held at the top of the main car park of the County Showground, the first place beacon, made by Steven Torr of Waterhouses YFC was lit by County President George Hawley, closely followed by the second placed beacon, made by Ed Foster Johnson of Lichfield YFC. Ed lit his beacon, which also displayed the Staffordshire knot as part of the design.
Around 50 members and supporters of Staffordshire YFC enjoyed a very relaxing social atmosphere along with numerous boxes of pizza as the beacons flickered away whilst the sun went down on what had been one of the busiest County Show days ever seen.
Thanks must go to the Staffordshire and Birmingham Agricultural Society for allowing Staffordshire YFC to hold this evening on the showground site.
To view photos from the evening, please click here.
Staffordshire Young Farmers take the main ring at the County Show by storm again this year, on Thursday 2nd June. They held their annual Young Farmers’ Show Float Competition with the theme this year being “West End Musicals”, which meant for plenty of construction, colour and fun on each float as they created some of the most well know hit stage musicals! The sponsor of the competition, BD Fuels of Hixon and Staffordshire Young Farmers President, George Hawley 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 Waterhouses YFC who recreated “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang” complete with a flying car, the kids chained up by the child catcher and a fantastic display of craftmanship and design. Second place was awarded to Abbotsholme YFC who’s float was re-creating “Matilda”. As the only school club in Staffordshire, the members were able to show off their singing and dancing skills as well as all being in character. In third place was Ashley YFC again this year, re-created “Alice in Wonderland” the main ring. They had all the favourite characters on their float and were acting out scenes from the musical at the Mad Hatters Tea Party. Fourth place was awarded to Uttoxeter JNFU who had the big top and circus on their float, depicting “The Greatest Showman!”
Leek YFC were awarded the Best Name Board Shield for their well-designed sign for their Float, Shrek, which was created by Ellie Platt, the Club Secretary. This part of the competition was judged by Mr & Mrs S Cartmail, Vice Chairman and Mr & Mrs A Sneddon, Vice President of the Staffordshire & Birmingham Agricultural Society.
Members on the Show Floats from ten clubs entertained the huge crowds and judges as they circled the Main Ring. Staffordshire YFC thoroughly enjoy providing this entertainment to the general public and raising their profile, as a rural youth organisation which is all about fun, teamwork, learning and opportunities for anyone aged 10 to 28 years. They also enjoyed a great water fight at the end, which is the most favourite part for many members, who cooled off after a very sunny show day.
Staffordshire YFC has had an amazing two days at this year’s County Show. They have been celebrating 70 years of Staffordshire YFC inside the “Platinum” themed marquee has been full with visitors over the two days. Members from all clubs have had the opportunity to meet potential new members as well as chatting to former members who have enjoyed reminiscing with the displays from the previous seven decades. County Chairman, Toby Hall commented that “We have had a great couple of days here at the County Show. It’s great to see YFC back to what it does best and promoting themselves so well inside our fabulous marquee. All the clubs have worked so hard building up to this week and its great to see them all so well rewarded with the support from the crowds.”
All 10 clubs had been working for months putting together their floats to the theme ‘West End Musicals’, the sun shone on the Thursday of Stafford County Show and the water fight was enjoyed by all. A big thank you to B D Fuels who very kindly sponsored the prize money for this Competition. The results were:
Overall Float
1st – Waterhouses YFC – Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
2nd – Abbotsholme YFC – Matilda
3rd – Ashley YFC – Alice in Wonderland
Best name Board
1st – Leek YFC
2nd – Eccleshall YFC
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, 1st June. A full grandstand of supporters from across the County and other clubs also turned out in force to watch a hard-fought competition. Many of the teams have been training three times a week since the new year and their hard work and efforts paid off.
With a record number of entries in both competitions and following a great standard of pulling the results on the evening for the male competition were: Waterhouses YFC just took the top spot away from Cheadle YFC taking the 1st place position after a very close finish. Cheadle YFC were the runners-up and Eccleshall YFC took 3rd place.
In the female competition, Waterhouses YFC again took the 1st place after a close finish with Cheadle YFC coming 2nd. And again, the ladies team from Eccleshall YFC came 3rd place.
The 1st and 2nd placed teams from each competition will now go forward to the West Midlands Round of the competition at being held on Sunday 26th June in Ledbury.
Tug of War remains an ever popular competition which encourages members to work together as a team with long terms benefits of improvement of fitness, strength and technique as well as discipline, enjoyment, sportsmanship, respect and teamwork.
To view a full selection of photos from the evening, please click here.
Each Club has 1m x 1m cube to promote their Club at this years Stafford County Show, the displays are judged and the results were:
1st – Abbotsholme YFC
2nd – Lichfield YFC
=3rd – Ashley YFC & Eccleshall YFC
Photos from the competition can be found HERE
On Tuesday 24th May, Staffordshire Young Farmers Club (YFC) hosted their Pre-Show Reception which was kindly sponsored by Abbotsholme School, RBA Wealth Management and HSKSG Accountants at the Ingestre Suite on the County Showground. The evening was attended by over 200 sponsors, supporters and invited guests of the Federation and marks the start of the Staffordshire County Show with many representatives of the rural community coming together.
The evening proved to be very entertaining with the ‘YFC’s Got Talent’ Competition, where competitors presented any talents of their choice from dancing, comedy to playing the violin. The judges, George Hawley & Graham Hollinshead commented that the six acts they had judged were all very entertaining, talented and unique in their own way!
After the acts had performed, the winners were announced as Abbotsholme YFC with Lyrica and Anais performing a superb and well-choreographed dance routine to the song “Unstoppable” by Sia. The judges said that the girls had great musicality and timing. Second place went jointly to Eccleshall YFC & Uttoxeter JNFU. Eccleshall YFC entertained with a pub sketch scene featuring Dan Moseley & Harry Bowers with plenty of jokes about life in general. Rob Mollatt & Toby Hall from Uttoxeter JNFU certainly got the laughs with their ‘two women at a wedding’ sketch including some very questionable side to side dancing!
Staffordshire Young Farmers along with South Staffordshire Water also presented a charity cheque to Midlands Air Ambulance following a very successful Christmas Tractor Run held in December 2021. This was also followed by a second cheque presentation by Staffordshire YFC and Emily Meakin, following the JW Meakin Tractor Run, which they organised alongside the Meakin Family in March this year, in memory of John Meakin. This Tractor Run raised money for Katherine House Hospice, who cared for John during his short illness.
During the evening there was a presentation by Ashley YFC about their fundraising over the last 12 months, charity cheques were presented on stage to Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY) and Midlands Air Ambulance.
Polly Baines, Chairlady of the Staffordshire Young Farmers Ambassadors (YFA), kept everyone up to date with the NFYFC YFC Travel Programme, with trips available from September 2022. YFC members can apply for travel opportunities all over the world from Rural Youth Seminars, homestays in Nepal to working in New Zealand. Jack Salt of Ashley YFC has been successful in applying for the Autumn Seminar in Ireland this year. The aim of the trip is that the participants gain knowledge of LGBTI+ inclusion and develop skills to facilitate respectful dialogue on the topic in rural communities and rural youth organisations.
The Leslie T Chester competition results were also presented for the best 500 word story using 15 specified words – lateral, daffodil, camembert, magnitude, obtuse, birthday, darkness, spectacles, flight, photograph, special, question, umbrella, cold & alpaca. First place went to Serena Gough of Eccleshall YFC, second place to Kate Oakes of Chase YFC with Beckie Philips of Uttoxeter JNFU coming third.
The evening was a great way for members and guests to start thinking ahead to the Staffordshire County Show, which is being held on Wednesday 1st – Thursday 2nd June where Staffordshire YFC members will be promoting their clubs inside the YFC Marquee, erected next to the YFC Building on the showground. Members will also be competitive on Wednesday evening as they “take the strain” in the main ring at 7.30pm with the Male and Female Tug of War Competition as well as on Thursday afternoon at 2.15pm with the very popular Show Floats, to the theme of “West End Musicals” this year.
Toby Hall, County Chairman said “Tonight has been a fantastic evening to show case the talents and hard work of all our members, from performing their many skills and talents on stage to the teamwork behind the various charity fundraising activities. We are excited for this year’s County Show, which will be celebrating 70 years of Staffordshire YFC along with the Queens Jubilee. We would love to see lots of current and past members over the two days of the Show and any supporters of our organisation visit the marquee and our tearooms where there will be a warm welcome and refreshments for everyone.”
Photos from the evening, kindly taken by Sally Elkin of Rocester Camera Club, can be found by clicking here.
The Pre Show Reception saw the results from the following competitions:
Leslie T Chester Story Writing Competition
1st – Serena Gough – Eccleshall YFC
2nd – Kate Oakes- Chase YFC
3rd – Beckie Phillips – Uttoxeter JNFU
YFC’s Got Talent Competition
1st – Abbotsholme YFC – Lyrica & Anais with their brilliantly choreographed danced routine
=2nd – Eccleshall YFC – Dan Moseley & Harry Bowers entertaining pub sketch
=2nd – Uttoxeter JNFU – Rob Mollatt & Toby Hall – comedy sketch featuring ‘two women at a wedding’
A full breakdown of the results can be found HERE
Staffordshire YFC alongside the Staffordshire and Birmingham Agricultural Society joined together for the first time in history to hold a joint Tribute Act evening, with the band Re-Bjorn, A Tribute to ABBA. The evening saw over 370 guests enjoyed a hog roast served by P S Sargeant of Bramshall, IceCream from Red Lion Farm, Haughton and a dancefloor filled from the moment the band took to the stage.
To view photos from the evening, please click here.
Staffordshire County Federation of Young Farmers Clubs (SCFYFC) County Rally was held on Saturday, 7th May at Hall Farm, Pipe Ridware by kind permission of RJ Smith & Son. After a two year gap it was fantastic to see ten strong Staffordshire YFC Clubs compete against each other on the day in over 40 competition classes. The Rally Day started and finished with bright sunshine and saw a great turnout of over 350 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 “Royal Picnic Basket,” creating a Tombola Drum, sculpting a Recycled Garden Feature and four photography categories. In addition to the displayed classes there were many opportunities for members to compete in active competitions on the day including a Water Catching Challenge, “Build a Tent” Competition and competing in the all-time favourite ‘Total Wipeout’ in order to try and win some silverware at the end of the Day.
Two of the National Federation of Young Farmers Clubs (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: ‘British TV Programmes’ with the winning entry coming from Jessica Yardley, Eccleshall YFC. In the Intermediate Class, the requirement was to create an exhibit to the theme “My Favourite Musical” from Lucy Hockenhull, Eccleshall YFC. The Senior Class required competitors to create an exhibit to the theme “Chinese New Year”, which was won by Beth Allen of Cheadle YFC. 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 carrying a Custard Cup to the other side of the main ring intact whilst having water and inflatables launched at them! All the main ring fun involved lots of water and enthusiasm from members with overall winners of the Sports Cup from this competition along with the Top Table Royal Relay being Eccleshall YFC.
Into the evening the highly competitive Junior Tug Of War competition, which is also a National Competition for 2022 sees the highest two place teams go forward to the West Midlands Area round in June. Members aged between 12 and 17 years from Waterhouses YFC took 1st place with Cheadle YFC coming a close second. The day was rounded off by the ever-popular Mixed Tug of War competition, which saw 9 teams taking part, and Waterhouses YFC, taking the silverware for the day, beating Uttoxeter JNFU in the final.
Following the Tug of War Competitions, during which a hog roast kindly donated by Packington Pork was served, the day was rounded off with announcement of the results from all the Rally Competitions and presentation of Trophies and Awards by the host, Mr Colin Smith. To view the full set of results please click https://staffsyoungfarmers.org.uk/rally-2022-results/
The day was kindly sponsored by over 60 local companies and supporting organisations, with the main sponsors being Shires Vets, Malcolm Harrison and Johnsons of Cheadle. The Rally day brings together the rural community of Staffordshire and could not run so well without the support of the judges, stewards and catering committee. Over 100 volunteers behind the scenes ensure that the day runs so smoothly – made up of county officers, vice parents and members of Staffordshire YFC.
Toby Hall, County Chairman of Staffordshire YFC said “I am really proud of all our members, some of whom have never been to a Rally before and so they just didn’t know what to expect. Their enthusiasm and talents on the day were well and truly on display. Staffordshire YFC is so grateful for all the support given by the sponsors, parents, members and helpers – we just couldn’t hold this kind of event without them!”
The federation currently has over 650 members aged 10 – 28 years, which is higher than pre pandemic times. Clubs across Staffordshire are now busy preparing for the Staffordshire County Show being held 1st – 2nd June which is their main marketing event of the year. The YFC Marquee which is erected next to the YFC Office on the Showground will be themed as “70 yrs of Staffordshire YFC”. Competitions held in the Main Ring over the two days include the Male and Female Tug of War Finals and the very popular Show Floats Competition which this year is themed as “West End Musicals.”
To view photos from the Rally please click as below:
Photos from the Day click here
Photos from the Tug of War click here
Photos from the Presentation of Awards click here
After a full on day of competitions ranging from Carved Tree Stump to Floral Art….. The Overall Results for the silverware were as follows:
Overall Rally Cup:
1st Uttoxeter; 2nd Eccleshall; 3rd Ashley
Most Improved Club Shield:
1st Eccleshall; 2nd Chase, 3rd Leek
Rose Bowl:
1st Eccleshall; 2nd Uttoxeter; 3rd Cheadle
Junior Cup:
1st Uttoxeter; 2nd Ashley; 3rd Cheadle & Eccleshall
Intermediate Cup:
1st Uttoxeter; 2nd Cheadle & Eccleshall; 3rd Chase
Senior Cup:
1st Eccleshall; 2nd Uttoxeter; 3rd Ashley
Associate Cup:
1st Uttoxeter; 2nd Chase; 3rd Eccleshall
Eccleshall Shield:
1st Cheadle; 2nd Chase; 3rd Waterhouses
Sports Cup:
1st Eccleshall; 2nd Lichfield; 3rd Cheadle
Tractor Handling Cup:
1st Cheadle; 2nd Stone; 3rd Chase
TWW Jones Award (Wildlife Quiz):
1st Uttoxeter; 2nd Leek; 3rd Chase
Tug of War Tray:
1st Waterhouses; 2nd Uttoxeter; 3rd Eccleshall
For all the photos from a brilliant Rally Day held by kind permission of RJ Smith & Son, please click
