On Friday 5th November, Staffordshire County Federation of Young Farmers Clubs (YFC) held their County AGM with County Chairlady, Amy Boothby rounding up her year in office with a very positive report on how Staffordshire YFC have managed to keep going throughout the pandemic. Amy, who took on her role as County Chairlady back in November 2020, just as the third lockdown was introduced across the country, reported to over 100 invited guests and members about how Staffordshire YFC embraced the virtual world and adapted their activities to online zoom evenings including “Would I lie to You” and virtual tours to local companies including Daltons Dairy of Wootton. Once restrictions started to ease in April, the federations membership were able to come together to enjoy activities including rounders, go karting, sports days and then the highlight of the calendar was the County Show held in August.
Although membership finished for the year 2020-21 on 31st August at 291 members aged 10 – 28 years, it was very positive that Amy reported on membership for the year so far from 1st September 2021 was already at 555 members aged 10 – 28 years, with ten active clubs all back up and running on a weekly basis. Amy said “My year has been unique, like no other Staffordshire YFC has ever seen. The last six months have been the absolute best. I’ve been honoured to watch and support Staffordshire YFC and the clubs within as they have bounced back to some form of normality and come back stronger than ever before.”
This years County AGM 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 most prestigious meeting of the Staffordshire YFC year where silverware is awarded for numerous competitions and achievements throughout the year. Although some silverware was not awarded, the meeting was still able to celebrate over 25 trophies being presented to members and clubs for their many achievements over the last 12 months.
Staffordshire YFC recognised the wonderful efforts of Jack Salt, Chairman of Ashley YFC during the last year, with the Senior Merit Award, which given to a member who is outstanding at Club or County Level. Jack led his club throughout the pandemic, holding covid secure events when possible and encouraging members to get involved. With his fellow officers, Jack took the club through a Covid-19 days of Christmas, not only as Santa on a sleigh, but also as a master of the Catchphrase night on zoom, raising funds for CRY. Jack also organised a very positive and much needed “fireside chat” evening to bring some much needed face to face socialising back when restrictions started to ease. The Club Efficiency Judges said “When looking for an all-round club officer to lead a club, this member ticks all the boxes – good communication, great rapport with members, advisory and county officers and they are happy to go the extra mile. They represent their club well in meetings and are not afraid to challenge and ask questions as well as take on board advice when offered.”
The Junior Merit Award was also presented for outstanding efforts made by a young member of Uttoxeter JNFU, Ed Townsend, for his consistent attendance at their club meetings, including zoom nights. Ed always made a great contribution to his club by taking part in as many competitions as possible, again on zoom, virtual rallies and in person. He committed a lot of their time to tug of war training and float building this year and the Club Efficiency Judges said “Ed is the kind of member every club needs – one who will volunteer straight away and give something new a go.”
Also, during the meeting, Mr George Hawley was elected as County President for his first year. He has been very involved in Cheadle YFC as a member, club officer and went onto be County Chairman of Staffordshire YFC back in the 90s. George is well known by many members as he has always helped at the Annual Rally with main ring commentary and more recently has been a Club Efficiency Judge. On election, George said “Let’s make Staffordshire young farmers stronger than before, it has so much to offer! Life skills, Education, competitions, YFC travel, social events, friendships for life and much more.”
Mr John Stone was elected the Senior Deputy President, again for the first year. John is a former member of Derbyshire YFC from the age of 14. He has been a Vice President of Staffordshire YFC for many years and has been very involved in supporting Waterhouses YFC with his children being members of the club. John and his family have enjoyed hosting many many events at their farm for Staffordshire YFC including 2 County Rallies. John said “I’m a great believer in encouraging and supporting young people to join the Young Farmers Organisation and I look forward to meeting members.”
The presentations of awards were announced by Philip Bourne, retiring County President and presented by Mr Peter Atkin, County Chairman of the Staffordshire and Birmingham Agricultural Society. The results were as follows, to the Clubs and Individuals:
H.D. Hobson Cup (for the Club with the highest percentage increase in membership, first presented in the Federation in 1975)
Winner – Stone YFC
Newsletter Shield – Kindly donated by the Staffordshire Newsletter and first presented in 1978
This is presented for the best contribution to the Book of the Year
Runner-up – Cheadle YFC and Chase YFC Winners – Ashley YFC
County Chairman’s Trophy for Outstanding County Officer
Winners – Hannah Britland and Beckie Phillips, as the joint Development Chairladies of Staffordshire YFC.
David Palij Award: Awarded for Charity/Community Work done in a particular year, but not necessarily based on the amount of money raised. The Trophy was presented in memory of the late David Palij, a severely disabled victim of thalidomide who worked in the YFC Office during 1983 until his tragic death in a road accident at the age of 21.
Runner up – Eccleshall YFC; Winners – Ashley YFC
Manifold Marketing Award:
A trophy awarded by Norman Manifold, and first presented in 1995. This award is presented to the Club gaining the highest number of points within the Club Efficiency Competition for the following element – Promoting your Club and Participation and Engagement in Club, County and Community Events.
Joint Runners-up: Cheadle YFC, Chase YFC and Uttoxeter JNFU; Winners: Ashley YFC
Scrapbook Award: First presented in 1992 and given to the Federation by the Vice Chairman of Staffordshire County Council, Mr J E Roberts.
Runners up: Cheadle YFC; Winners: Ashley YFC
Overall Competition Cup for the County Show: Presented to the Federation by Mr R Tonge in 1967 for the best exhibits at the County Show. It is now awarded for the Club who collates the highest number of Competition Points at the County Show Competitions.
Runner-up: Uttoxeter JNFU Winners: Stone YFC
Most Improved Club – Competitions Cup (This is an award given to the club that has improved the most in Competitions from the 2016/2017 year). First presented for YFC use in 1996 and was given to the Federation by the Staffordshire branch of the NFU.
Runner-up: Lichfield YFC; Winners: Stone YFC
Small Clubs Trophy (This is an award given to the club out of the five smallest clubs in the County with regard to membership, who have achieved the most points throughout the year for competitions.) Trophy given to the Federation by the County NFU in 1996.
Runner-up: Chase YFC; Winner: Cheadle YFC
The Ken Unwin MBE Memorial Cup (donated to Staffordshire YFC by the Staffordshire NFU and is given in memory of Mr Ken Unwin MBE and first presented in 2011)
Runner-up: Ashley YFC; Winner: Stone YFC
Overall Competitions Cup Runner-up: Eccleshall YFC; Winners: Uttoxeter JNFU
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. Also taken into account during this unusual year, was how Clubs adapted and embraced the challenges of the year. From this competition, the following awards were presented:
Most Outstanding Chairman: Joint Runner-up: Jack Salt, Ashley YFC & Toby Hall, Uttoxeter JNFU
Winner: Sarah Bourne, Cheadle YFC
Most Outstanding Secretary: Runner-up: Hollie Kelly, Chase YFC
Winner: Liv Larsson, Ashley YFC
Most Outstanding Treasurer: Runner-up: Kate Oakes, Chase YFC
Winner: Bella Lucas, Ashley YFC
Most Outstanding Club Leader: Runner-up: Phil Wilson, Uttoxeter JNFU
Winner: Sarah Hope, Ashley YFC
Club Efficiency Shield: Runner up: Uttoxeter JNFU
Winner: Ashley YFC
As can be seen from the above, Staffordshire YFC is an organisation for any young people between the ages of 10 and 28 who would like to learn new skills, take up opportunities not available through mainstream education and to become part of their local community with like-minded young people. Despite the Covid19 pandemic, Staffordshire YFC has managed to adapt its youthwork service and keep going, holding activities online and keeping in touch with all members and is now increasing membership on a weekly basis as more young people chose to join their local club for much needed weekly activities and opportunities.
A great night for Staffs YFC members in Leek competing in the County Darts Competition! On the oche!🎯
The individual results are:
🥇 Will Roobottom (Chase Young Farmers)
🥈 Toby Hall (Uttoxeter JNFU)
🥉 Johnny Wheawall (Uttoxeter JNFU)
The Doubles results are:
🥇 Freddy Moss & Andy Hill (Leek Young Farmers Club)
🥈 Rob Hind & Jack Salt (Ashley Young Farmers)
🥉 Eddie Phillips & Ian Whitehurst (Uttoxeter JNFU)
Therefore, the overall team results are:
Joint 🥇 Leek Young Farmers & Uttoxeter JNFU A
🥉 Chase YFC
Thank you to the Ball Haye Tavern for hosting us once again!
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
Eight teams from around the County took part in the County Cookery Competition, the results were:
1st – Eccleshall YFC, 2nd – Chase B YFC & 3rd- Leek YFC.
Thank you also goes to:
Like Nanna Made for sponsoring the competition and providing aprons for the top 2 teams
Barbers Rural for providing shopping bags and lists for the competitors.
The top two teams will now represent Staffordshire YFC at the NFYFC Cookery finals
Click HERE for full photos from the evening
Staffordshire Young Farmers Clubs (YFC) held their sixth successful Christmas Shopping Evening on Thursday 6th December at The Ingestre Suite on the County Showground, Stafford. The vast room was filled with 63 stalls from across the Staffordshire selling local produce including Nelsons Gin based just outside of Uttoxeter and The Wissage Bakehouse, who are based in Aston just outside of Stafford. Also attending was local Stone YFC member, Becky Roe has just launched her new company called “Pebble and Sage” designing original and unique prints, cards and invitations. Becky has also recently benefited from a grant from Staffordshire YFC, to help her with her design company, helping her business to flourish and grow.
The newly formed Cheadle YFC members also put their creative skills to the test and bought along a stall with handcrafted decorations and gift ideas to help raise funds for the Club.
The YFC Office had to set up a waiting list during the month before as stallholders were desperate to secure a pitch at this growingly popular event. Doors opened to the public at 6.30pm with a brisk trade all evening, with over 380 visitors who were greeted with a freshly baked mince pie and warmed mulled wine to set the festive scene for a great indoor shopping experience. The federation were well supported again by local turkey farmer Sandra Hopley based in Tixall, who kindly supplied hot turkey rolls on sale, which smelt delicious as everyone arrived.
There was also a raffle held during the evening, kindly supported by many of the stallholders who donated prizes and manned very well by Pav and Isobelle of Barclays Bank who very generously agreed to match fund on the evening through the Barclays Bank community initiative.
County Chairman, Polly Baines said “Once again this year, our Christmas Shopping Evening has exceeded all expectations. We are very grateful to the Staffordshire and Birmingham Agricultural Society for allowing us to use the fantastic showground facility to hold the event in. We like to encourage stalls with local produce, craft and unique goods that cannot be found on the high street to come along and they definitely did that on Thursday night, kickstarting to the festive shopping season for all our visitors in style.”
Staffordshire Young Farmers will be holding the evening again next year on Thursday 5th December as part of their vast calendar of events which raise funds for the organisation, which is a registered charity. This enables the Federation to provide support, training and competitions to its membership which is now over 550 young people aged 10 – 26 years.
To view photos from the evening, please click here.
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.
27 members from 9 clubs took part in this years Silage Competition, they travelled around three farms in the Hollington area finishing at The Farmers Arms, Withington for a well deserved carvery lunch. The results were:
1st – Uttoxeter JNFU, 2nd – Stone YFC, 3rd – Lichfield YFC
Photos from the day can be found HERE
Staffordshire Young Farmers celebrated the end of 2017, and slightly early celebrated the new year, at the County Showground. Pictures are in the Photos section of this website.
Lichfield YFC have a new top table for 2017-18. Harri Dunne has been elected as Chairman, Eden Gray as Secretary and Jacob Sweetman-Wiley as Treasurer. They have lots planned for Lichfield YFC so pop down to Sheepwash Farm on a Monday night to find out more!
Leek YFC have a new top table for 2017-18. Andrew Hill has been elected as Chairman, Beth Hicklin as Secretary and Meg Barnes as Treasurer. They have lots planned for Leek YFC so pop down to Leek Hockey Club on a Wednesday night to find out more!
