Staffordshire Young Farmers Record Breaking Road Run for Charity!

On Sunday 8th December the roads of Staffordshire rural villages were lit up by a spectacular procession of over 85 festive tractors. Hundreds of people lined the streets to see the amazing display of machinery, donating generously towards the Young Farmers chosen charities. The event generated a record amount of over £10,000 which will be split equally between Birmingham Children’s Hospital Charity and Staffordshire Young Farmers.  

The Staffordshire Young Farmers Christmas tractor run is now in its fourth consecutive year and took a new 22 mile route for 2024,  travelling through Seighford, Derrington, Haughton, Gnosall, Woodseaves, Eccleshall and Ellenhall before heading back to base at Seighford Airfield. 

The event would not have been possible without the support of main sponsors JCB and Halso UK Ltd and over 20 local businesses who supported or provided equipment for the Run.   

 David Timmis, Product & Marketing Manager for JCB Agriculture, said: 

“JCB Agriculture is proud to be a main sponsor of Staffordshire YFC Christmas Tractor Run, raising money for 2 fantastic charities, both of which ensure the wellbeing of the next generation of future farmers.” 

Emma Osborn, Managing Director of Halso UK Fuels said: 

“We are absolutely delighted to be part of this incredible charity event. Halso has been proudly supporting Young Farmers since 1967, and Birmingham Children’s Hospital Charity holds a special place in our hearts as a charity that does life-changing work for children and their families. Events like these not only allow us to give back to the community but also bring people together in the spirit of generosity and joy. At Halso, we believe in the power of community and tradition, and this is a wonderful opportunity to continue that legacy while making a real difference.”  

Over 100 volunteers from the farming community and Staffordshire Young Farmers Members helped on the night from marshalling road junctions, parking tractors to bucket collecting from the hundreds of spectators who lined the streets. 

 Feedback from the public has been positively overwhelming and requests for a reappearance in 2025 is already in great demand.    

Donations for the two charities are still be taken click here for more information – https://www.gofundme.com/f/staffordshire-yfc-tractor-run-2024  

Photos from the evening can be found HERE

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Flurry of Festive Tractors coming to Eccleshall Town and local villages!

Prime your engines and hold onto your flat caps – the Christmas Tractor Run, organised by the Staffordshire Young Farmers Clubs takes a new route for 2024!

The Staffordshire countryside will once again see around 100 festive tractors take to the road in a charity Christmas convoy on Sunday 8 December from 5pm.

Arranged by Staffordshire Young Farmers Clubs, this will be the fifth year of our family-friendly festive event, with an impressive parade of tractors old and new travelling a 20-mile route through the villages of Seighford, Derrington, Haughton, Gnosall, Woodseaves, Eccleshall & Ellenhall.

The procession is a sight to behold each tractor is lit up with fairy lights, and the more daring drivers even add inflated Santas and rotating Christmas trees!  The proceeds from this years event will be split between Birmingham Children’s Hospital Charity and Staffordshire Young Farmers Club.

The main sponsors for this years run are JCB Agriculture and Halso UK Fuels, along with support from 18 local companies which will all help to make this a night to remember!

David Timmis, Product & Marketing Manager for JCB Agriculture, said:

“JCB Agriculture is proud to be a main sponsor of Staffordshire YFC Christmas Tractor Run, raising money for 2 fantastic charities, both of which ensure the wellbeing of the next generation of future farmers.”

Emma Osborn, Managing Director of Halso UK Fuels said:

“We are absolutely delighted to be part of this incredible charity event. Halso has been proudly supporting Young Farmers since 1967, and Birmingham Children’s Hospital Charity holds a special place in our hearts as a charity that does life-changing work for children and their families. Events like these not only allow us to give back to the community but also bring people together in the spirit of generosity and joy. At Halso, we believe in the power of community and tradition, and this is a wonderful opportunity to continue that legacy while making a real difference.” –

Staffordshire YFC are busy preparing for the night, which involves a team of over 80 stewards and helpers, along with members bucket collecting in the local villages.  We look forward to seeing all the public supporting along the route, an online donation can be made here – Fundraiser by STAFFORDSHIRE YFC : Staffordshire YFC Tractor Run 2024

Please follow the Staffordshire YFC Facebook page for more information on the event, including a live tracker on the night!

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Public Speaking Day 2024

On Sunday, 24^th November, over 80 members of Staffordshire County Federation of Young Farmers’ Clubs took part in a variety of Public Speaking competitions.  The day was kindly supported by Elanco Animal Health based in Bristol.

In the first competition of the day, Junior Reading, each team, comprising of three members aged 10 – 14 years read out three chosen passages from “The Vally of Lost Secrets” by Lesley Parr. The winning team was from Waterhouses YFC, in second place came Ashley YFC.  The other competition held for younger members was the Junior Speaking, where members aged 10 – 16 years form teams who act as a Chairman, Speaker and Proposer of the Vote of Thanks.  Winning that competition was Waterhouses YFC, closely followed by Ashley YFC in second place.

Members also took part in the Brainstrust Competition aged 21 and under. After the teams competed the overall results were Cheadle YFC in first place, Waterhouses YFC taking second and Eccleshall YFC coming in third place. This competition involves the team debating questions which are topical at the time. Each teams’ chair has a selected batch which contain six question topics, three of a general nature and three on rural affairs, from which they select three for discussion by the team. One question must be selected from each section plus one other. The Chair has no prior communication with the team about the questions they have selected to be discussed. The competition makes for a great debate.

The ever-popular Situations Vacant Competition was also held, based on the members applying for a job of their choice, competitors had to submit an application form and covering letter prior to the competition and then participate in a ‘mock’ job interview.  This Competition is split into two age categories – 16 – 21 years – Victoria Astle of Waterhouses YFC came first with Alice Boothby of Uttoxeter JNFU coming second and Jade Talbot of Eccleshall YFC took third place. In the 22 – 28 years category, in first place was Sam Atherton from Ashley YFC with Natalie Bradley in second place from Eccleshall YFC and Kate Oakes in third place from Chase YFC.

The first placed teams in these competitions will go forward to represent Staffordshire at the West Midlands Area Finals on 16^th March 2025, which is being hosted by Staffordshire.

Also, on Sunday, the County round of Member of the Year (17 and under) and (18 and over) were held.  Abi P of Uttoxeter JNFU was the winner of the 17 and under Section.  Competitors were required to complete a Synopsis Form giving details of their activities within YFC over the previous 12 months as well as information about school, career aspirations, and activities outside YFC.  An informal interview and power point presentation also took place on the day.  In second place was Paddy M of Ashley YFC and in third place was Katie B of Waterhouses YFC.

Abi P will go forward to represent Staffordshire YFC at the West Midlands Area.

Senior competitors were required to complete an information sheet giving details of their experience with Young Farmers and attend an interview with the competition judges on the day.  All the judges on the day commented on the high standard of competitors and felt that the federation had some very enthusiastic and confident members to take on roles in their clubs in the future.

Senior Member of the Year was won by Hollie Kelly of Chase YFC, she will be representing Staffordshire YFC at the West Midlands Area round.

Later in the day, members were invited to take part in ‘Just a Minute’ Competition based on the radio quiz The panellists are asked in rotation, to speak for one minute on a given subject, without “hesitation, repetition or deviation.” The winning team was from Ashley YFC with Chase YFC coming second and Cheadle YFC coming a close third.

To round off a great day of Competitions, Waterhouses YFC provided a demonstration of their Cheerleading routine. Ashley YFC also demonstrated their Ballroom Dancing routine. Waterhouses and Ashley YFC will represent Staffordshire at the West Midlands Area final of this competition, hosted by Staffordshire on Sunday 16^th March 2025.

These competitions are very kindly supported by Elanco Animal Health. Jeremy Glover of Glover Intell Consulting said, “We here at Elanco Animal Health were honoured to support the Young Farmers Public Speaking, Interviewing and Debating Event. It is inspiring to see the passion, talent and potential displayed by these young leaders who are shaping the future of agriculture.

By sponsoring this event, we hope to encourage these individuals to continue building the skills that will help them thrive both personally and professionally. Communication, critical thinking and leadership are essential qualities, and it is a privilege to be part of an initiative that fosters these traits we saw first hand during the interviews with all the candidates.

Thank you for allowing us to contribute to such a meaningful cause. We look forward to seeing the continued success of these young farmers and supporting future endeavours that help them frow and excel.”

The day of competitions held on Sunday is a great example of the opportunities which all YFC members have to develop their public speaking skills, take up new competitions and meet like-minded young people from across the county.

Photos from the day can be found HERE

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