Staffordshire County Federation of Young Farmers Clubs (SCFYFC) County Rally was held on Saturday, 12th May at Overton Farm, Hollington, Nr Tean by kind permission of J A Bloor Agricultural Services Ltd and was once again this year, a great success for the strong eleven Staffordshire Clubs. The Rally day was filled with sunshine and fun with a great turnout of over 250 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 “A Show Stopper Dessert,” creating cuddly Unicorns, Wizards sets and Photography as well as taking part in plenty of action competitions on the actual day including Tossing a Sheaf, Boys Egg Challenge and racing a Soap Box down a rather steep hill in order to try and win some silverware.
There was a selection of National Federation of Young Farmers (NFYFC) Competitions also held on the day, including the Floral Art which this year, was to the theme of “Magic and Mystery”. In the Junior Class, competitors were required to create an exhibit to the title: ‘Witches and Warlocks’ with the winning entry coming from James Robinson of Lichfield Young Farmers. In the Intermediate Class, the requirement was to create an exhibit to the title: ‘The mystery of the magic circle’, the winning entry was from Emma Timmis of Stone Young Farmers. The Senior Class required competitors to create an exhibit to the title: ‘A mysterious phenomenon of your choice’ which was won by Phillippa Bourne of Stone Young Farmers. The three members will all go forward to compete in the NFYFC Finals held at the Malvern Autumn Show in September.
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 jumping through tyres and crawling through tunnels with everything involving lots of water, the overall winners of the Sports Cup from this competition were Ashley Young Farmers.
The highlight of the day was the ‘Soap Box’ race which involved two members racing a homemade ‘Soap Box’ down a rather steep course, each club was timed and the winners were Ashley YFC. Hosts, J A Bloor also held their own race which attracted members of the public to have a go too.
The highly competitive Junior Tug Of War competition, which is a National Competition for 2018 sees the highest two place teams go forward to the Three Counties Show at Malvern in June. Members aged between 12 and 17 years from Waterhouses YFC took 1st place and newly formed club, Cheadle YFC took the 2nd place. The day was rounded off by the ever popular Mixed Tug of War competition, which saw 6 teams taking part, and Waterhouses YFC, taking the silverware for the day, beating Stone YFC in the final.
The day was kindly sponsored by over 60 local companies and supporting organisations, with the main sponsors being South Staffordshire College and Johnsons of Cheadle.
Young Farmers always like to help other charities and despite an extremely busy day, they raised £485 for Young Minds with Uttoxeter Young Farmers peddling an exercise bike from 9am to 9pm on the Rally Day. J A Bloor also organised a digger challenge for members of the public and YFC members to have a go at, in return for a donation to help a local young boy, Beau, who needs an operation to help him to walk, which will take place in America. The digger challenge raised £500 on the day.
Back at Overton Farm that night, the Results and Trophies were announced and presented on behalf of the hosts, Jason and Janine Bloor of J A Bloor Agricultural Services Limited, at the Rally Dance. The night saw over 220 members and guests letting their hair down and celebrating a fantastic day of competitions, dancing to “Fresh Events.” The full set of photos from the day can be found here.
After a full on day of competitions ranging from Soapbox Racing to Floral Art….. The Overall Results for the silverware were as follows:
Overall Rally Cup:
1st Uttoxeter; 2nd Waterhouses; 3rd Stone
Most Improved Club Shield:
1st Stone; 2nd Ashley
Rose Bowl:
1st Eccleshall/Stone; 2nd Uttoxeter; 3rd Waterhouses
Junior Cup:
1st Waterhouses; 2nd Lichfield; 3rd Eccleshall
Intermediate Cup:
1st Ashley; 2nd Lichfield; 3rd Stone
Senior Cup:
1st Stone; 2nd Eccleshall/Uttoxeter; 3rd Waterhouses/Chase
Associate Cup:
1st Uttoxeter; 2nd Waterhouses; 3rd Ashley
Eccleshall Shield:
1st Eccleshall; 2nd Chase; 3rd Stone
Sports Cup:
1st Ashley; 2nd Eccleshall; 3rd Uttoxeter
Tractor Handling Cup:
1st Ridware; 2nd Stone; 3rd Eccleshall
TWW Jones Award (Wildlife Quiz):
1st Uttoxeter; 2nd Eccleshall; 3rd Chase
Tug of War Tray:
1st Waterhouses; 2nd Stone; 3rd Uttoxeter
Sheep Shearing Trophy:
1st Uttoxeter; 2nd Stone
For all the photos from a brilliant Rally Day held by kind permission of J A Bloor Agricultural Services, please click here
Staffordshire Young Farmers Clubs (YFC) had a very proud moment whilst in Blackpool at the National Federation of Young Farmers Club (NFYFC) Annual Convention Weekend, when they saw Mr David Heminsley, their Current County President elected as a life Vice President of the National Federation during the AGM on Sunday 6th May. David has been involved in Staffordshire YFC since 1987 after completing his degree in Agriculture at Reading University. He has held the positions of Club Chairman for Uttoxeter Young Farmers Club followed by County Chairman for Staffordshire and also Chairman of the West Midlands Area of YFC as well as President of each organisation as well. David has worked for JCB fo 20 years and is currently a Technical Specialist on the Fastrac high-speed tractor range.
His involvement in YFC at all levels is vast, with his speciality at a County level being all things technical, maintenance and Health and Safety. David is also the first person called for the County Office computer system, which he maintains along with the website. He has judged and stewarded many competitions around Clubs, County, Area and National level and is someone who is often unseen, as he is usually very busy in the background with setting up the varied activities which YFC run.
David Beswick, Senior Trustee to Staffordshire YFC said “I’m really thrilled that David has been awarded as a Life Vice President of NFYFC. He is a great person and his knowledge and expertise has been valuable to the federation, clubs and County. The recognition is a credit to him and all his associates.”
David Heminsley said “I feel very honoured to be made a Life Vice President of NFYFC. I owe a lot of gratitude to all those who have helped, supported, worked with me as part of my journey through YFC over the years. As with so many other past members, it all started when I joined Uttoxeter club, and I was so pleased and proud that current members of the club joined me at the presentation.”
David was proposed, along with Mr and Mrs Poul Christenson of Oxfordshire YFC and Mr and Mrs Ben Westwood of Derbyshire YFC at the National AGM by Kate Wainwright of Derbyshire YFC, with George Goodwin of Staffordshire YFC seconding the motion. George, a member and last years’ County Chairman of Staffordshire YFC, and currently the NFYFC Personal Development Chairman said “Always the first to arrive, last to leave but often working behind the scenes whether that is a Uttoxeter JNFU production, county, area or national event Dave makes it his business to ensure that it is well ran, with the right equipment wired up to the right box!”
Members of Eccleshall Young Farmers Club (YFC) started the National Federation of Young Farmers (NFYFC) Annual Convention weekend in Blackpool off in style, with 7 members leaving Eccleshall High Street on Thursday 3rd May, biking the 100 mile trip to reach the Winter Gardens for the following day. The members were raising money for fellow Eccleshall YFC member, Dan Moseley, who sustained serious injuries following a trampoline accident.
Supported by fellow Eccleshall YFC members Richard Owen and Emily Cartmail and their trusty van, filled with energy snacks, puncture repair kits and hydrating drinks, the 7 members, Will Massie, Tom Westwell, Jack Owen, Harry Bowers, Tom Bowers, Sam Fowell and Nathan Sillito kept up the pace with each other and managed to complete 70 miles on the first day with the last 10 miles being quite gruelling. After a brief overnight stop near to Chorley, the final 30 miles went very straightforward, and the cheer from members from around the country as they arrived at the Winter Gardens was fantastic.
The total raised on the bike ride for Dan has now exceeded £7000 which will help greatly towards his rehabilitation.
The Club had an action packed weekend, with little rest for Tom Westwell and Will Massie, who were 2 members of the Eccleshall YFC Jump Rope team, competing in the National Finals of this Competition on Sunday afternoon. Alongside team members Sally Tyler and Sammie Wilson, this awesome foursome pulled off an extremely technical routine. Their tricks with the ropes had the audience on the edge of their seat. Tom, had only started practising for this competition since February, following Dan’s accident, as Dan was one of the original team due to compete. The Club were determined to make Dan proud, and he even had his own cheer from the crowd as the competition was streamed to him via FaceTime on the day. After a very energetic performance, the team were awarded 2nd place, only 4 points behind current champions Gloucestershire YFC.
Will Massie, team member said “It has been great to see how the Club has all pulled together since Dan’s accident, working so hard in training for the bike ride and then also practising for the Jump Rope Competition. We are all willing for Dan to be back at Eccleshall YFC soon.”
Julia Taylor, County Organiser for Staffordshire YFC said “Watching the Eccleshall YFC team working together so well this weekend has made everyone in the county very proud. We look forward to seeing Dan back in Staffordshire YFC and with such brilliant and supportive friends combined with his determined and positive attitude; we have no doubt that this happen.”
The next fundraising event to help Dan is being organised at the Staffordshire YFC County Office on the County Showground in Stafford on Sunday 24th June from 10am-12noon when a “Brunch for Dan” will be served to friends, family, YFC members and supporters. Everyone is welcome to join in this event.
All Clubs took part in this years Indoor Cricket League, starting in January over ten weeks, this years results are:
1st – Uttoxeter JNFU
2nd – Eccleshall YFC
3rd – Leek YFC
This year Stockman of the Year competition was held bkp the Stubbs Family, the dairy cattle were judged nearby bkp of DA & ME Whitehurst. 8 clubs took part on the day, which each member having to judge, place and give reasons in the following categories, beef, diary, breeding ewes and pigs. The results were:
Young Stockjudge of the Year
1st – Lichfield YFC, 2nd – Leek YFC, 3rd Chase YFC
Stockman of the Year
1st – Uttoxeter JNFU, 2nd – Eccleshall YFC, 3rd – Lichfield YFC
Junior Stockjudge of the Year
1st – William Galbraith (Eccleshall YFC), 2nd – Maisie Tinwell (Leek YFC), 3rd – Rob Gray (Lichfield YFC)
Intermediate Stockjudge of the Year
1st – Kate Mollatt (Uttoxeter JNFU), 2nd – Peter Cotton (Waterhouses YFC), 3rd – William Leese (Eccleshall YFC)
Senior Stockjudge of the Year
1st – Harriet Wilson (Eccleshall YFC), 2nd – Phil Wilson (Uttoxeter JNFU), 3rd – Jake Manning (Lichfield YFC)
Photos from the day can be found HERE
Leek High School was the venue for this years Volleyball Competition, 6 teams competed with the results as follows:
1st – Waterhouses YFC 
2nd – Lichfield YFC 
3rd – Uttoxeter JNFU 
Come and join us on the 28th April for the Pre AGM warm up at Uttoxeter’s Bavarian night!!!! In aid of young minds as the oatcake will be coming our way soon!! #oatcakeontour #youngminds
It’s a night not to be missed! Get those outfits at the ready!
There will be a licenced bar, shot bar, cocktail bar, and BBQ!
£5 entry or £10 entry with 1 filled stein! YAY!
Usual YFC rules apply, see our facebook page for more details!
There will be a wristband policy in place!
WE CAN’T WAIT TO SEE YOU ALL THERE!!!
We just wanted to say a huge thank you to everyone who came to the sketch pad! We had a great time putting it all together and we raised over £1.400 which is fantastic so thank you so much!
If anyone would like a copy of the DVD please get in contact with Emily, they are £5 each.
This years competition was held at PowerLeague, Stoke with over 100 members taking part in the male and female competitions. The results from the day were:
Male – 1st – Eccleshall YFC, 2nd – Uttoxeter A JNFU, 3rd – Leek YFC
Female – 1st – Stone YFC, 2nd – Eccleshall YFC, 3rd – Uttoxeter JNFU.
