B & B Tractors support Public Speaking Day Competitions

On Sunday, 27^th November, members from across the Staffordshire County Federation of Young Farmers’ Clubs will take part in a variety of Public Speaking competitions including Junior Reading, Junior Speaking, Intermediate Call My Bluff, Senior Brainstrust and Situations Vacant.  There will also be the Member of the Year Competitions held on the same day.

These competitions are very kindly supported B & B Tractors of Tutbury. Sara Paloni, Group Marketing Manager said “For the third year running B&B Tractors are proud to sponsor Staffordshire YFC County Public Speaking Day. Along with Staffordshire YFC, we believe that encouraging up and coming members to speak publicly about current and popular topics in the agricultural industry is the best way to bring awareness to the farming community.”

Members who come first or second place in the competitions will have the opportunity to take part in the area round which is also being hosted by Staffordshire YFC on Sunday 19^th February 2023.

For full details about the day, please click here.

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English Winter Fair 2022 – Results

Glamorgan YFC take top spot for the second year!

Glamorgan YFC members were ahead of Somerset YFC taking the Overall Team Cup again at the English Winter Fair YFC Stock and Carcase Judging Competition held on Sunday 20^th November.  Their members fought off a very high standard of competition from over 100 young farmers’ members across 16 teams entered into this year’s English Winter Fair YFC Stock and Carcase Judging classes.  The one-day competition was hailed a great success following a great comeback year for YFC clubs across England and Wales after the pandemic.   The competition organiser from Staffordshire YFC, Julia Taylor said “It has been such a positive day with members from across England and Wales travelling to Staffordshire and competing against fellow members in the Stock and Carcase Judging.  YFC members really appreciate being able to hold this type of competition using the excellent facilities at the County Showground in Stafford and it is a pleasure to organise them on behalf of the Staffordshire and Birmingham Agricultural Society.”

 The English Winter Fair took place at the weekend, 19^th – 20^th November and the YFC classes were kindly sponsored by Elanco Animal Health with very generous prize monies on offer. Young Farmers were able to judge Live Lamb and Beef Classes and Lamb and Pork Carcase Classes thanks to support from the show organiser, Staffordshire & Birmingham Agricultural Society along with Elanco Animal Health.   Louise Radford of Elanco Animal Health said “Elanco AH Ltd, suppliers of leading brands such as CLiK & Zolvix are proud to be sponsoring the YFC Classes at this year’s English Winter Fair, working alongside Staffordshire YFC and the English Winter Fair Committee.”

Catherine Johnson of Elanco Animal Health alongside the English Winter Fair Committee Chairman, Robert Cartmail, presented the members with their prize cards in the main ring.

In the Live Lambs class, judged in Bingley Hall, with the lambs kindly provided by Toby Lawton, the highest scoring Senior Competitor was awarded Marita Warner-King of Gloucestershire YFC with 92 points.  The Overall Intermediate Competitor was Isla Albutt also of Gloucestershire YFC with 90 points.  The highest scoring team in this class was awarded to Marta and Isla for their combined total of 182 points.

The Live Beef class was judged in the stalls, with some fine cattle provided by the very supportive exhibitors at the show. The highest scoring Senior Competitor was Michael Burley of Glamorgan YFC with 76 points.    In the Intermediate Section, Lottie Hill of Somerset YFC came first with 94 points.  As a team, Somerset YFC took first place in this class, with members Dan Cox and Lottie Hill scoring a combined total of 169 points.

The Carcase Classes were all judged in the excellent Carcase Hall facility with carcasses very kindly provided by Messrs Bradshaw Bros.  In the Lamb Carcase class, the Overall Senior Competitor was won Rebecca Jeyes of Warwickshire YFC with 90 points.    The Overall Intermediate Competitor was Lauren David of Glamorgan YFC with 95 points. The Overall team in this section was won by the team from Glamorgan YFC, with members Rob David and Lauren David who achieved a combined total of 176 points.

The final class of the day was the Pork Carcase Class.  The Overall Senior Competitor was won by Angharad Llewellyn of Worcestershire YFC with 91 points.   The Overall Intermediate Competitor was Emily Bell of Somerset YFC with 93 points.    The Overall Team in this final class was won by Angharad Llewellyn and Kitty Dingley of Worcestershire YFC with a combined total of 171 points.

The Michael Bradshaw Award for the Overall Stockjudging Team was awarded to Montgomery YFC with Somerset YFC in second place and Glamorgan YFC in third place.  The Michael Bradshaw Award for the Overall Carcase Judging Team was awarded to Glamorgan YFC with Worcestershire YFC taking second place and third place awarded to Somerset YFC.

After a full day of judging, The Birmingham Agricultural Exhibition Society Silver Challenge Cup, awarded for the Overall Team on the day went to Glamorgan YFC after they gained a grand total of 653 points in all the classes.  They were followed by Somerset YFC in second place with 649 points and in third place, Worcestershire YFC with 599 points.

Stockjudging and Carcase judging competitions remain a very important and competitive sector in the Young Farmers Federations across the country, as this day has demonstrated so well.   The facilities at the English Winter Fair are ideal for YFC to showcase this.  Next year, the English Winter Fair committee will continue to host these competitions for YFC members and looks forward to welcoming the National Federation of Young Farmers Clubs again, to take part in this very successful show, with their Live and Carcase Judging Competition Finals, which were also held again at the Show this year.

To view a full set of photos from the day, please click here.

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Pickering and Butters continue to support Staffordshire YFC

Staffordshire Young Farmers Clubs are pleased to announce that their Annual General Meeting (AGM) which is held on Friday 4^th November is being supported again 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 usually attended by over 200 invited guests and members of the Federation and is the most prestigious meeting of the Staffordshire YFC year. Retiring County Chairman, Toby Hall is looking forward to reporting on successes that Staffordshire YFC has had during his year in office.

At the County AGM there will be several awards and presentations 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.

Toby Hall, County Chairman said “As a charitable youth organisation we are so grateful to our clubs and members for making such a positive comeback following the covid pandemic. We really appreciate the support from Pickering and Butters, at our County AGM this year. With support from companies as well as members and the wider rural community, we are able to continue to deliver our valuable services including a vast programme of Competitions, Social events, and training so that young people can come together in rural isolated areas to enjoy everything that YFC has to offer.”

Sean Spinetto, Head of Department for Business at Pickering and Butters said “We are honoured to continue our long association with Staffordshire YFC by sponsoring their 2022 AGM. We look after the interests of many clients in the rural community including those from a younger generation. We are privileged to be given the opportunity to support them in any way we can such as sponsoring this event and hope our relationship with Staffordshire YFC will continue to flourish”.

For more information about the Staffordshire YFC AGM and details of how to join at YFC club is available on the website www.staffsyoungfarmers.org.uk  or contact the County Office on 01785 248645 for further details.

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Christmas Tractor Run Returns

The Staffordshire countryside will once again see around 100 festive tractors take to the road in a charity Christmas convoy on Sunday 4 December.

Arranged by Staffordshire Young Farmers Clubs alongside South Staffs Water, this will be the third event of its kind, with the impressive parade of tractors travelling a 20-mile route through the villages of Hamstall Ridware, Blithbury, Abbots Bromley, Blithfield, Colton and Hill Ridware in aid of charity.

The first event was held in 2019, with 80 tractors taking part, increasing in 2021 to almost 100 tractors. The tractors were lit up with Christmas lights, inflated Santas and one had a rotating Christmas tree. The events over the two years held have raised over £10,500 benefitting four charities including The Midlands Air Ambulance and Water Aid.

This year’s event will be raising money for two chosen charities; Staffordshire Young Farmers Clubs and Midlands Air Ambulance.

Nina Yiannoukos-Benton, senior catchment advisor at South Staffs Water, said:

“We love helping to organise the tractor run, not only does it raise money for charity but it’s a huge feel-good event for the communities we serve. We love to see the smiles on the people’s faces as we drive by. We work really closely with the Staffordshire Farmers, to ensure we maintain good wholesome drinking water for our customers and to trial new methods of working, so it’s a wonderful way to celebrate that work too.”

Julia Taylor, County Organiser at Staffordshire Federation of Young Farmers Clubs, said:

“The Christmas Tractor Run is an event that Staffordshire YFC is very much enjoying organising and working with South Staffs Water to bring festive cheer to the rural villages along with the route.  We are so really looking forward to seeing the public supporting the event and are very grateful for their generosity. The feedback from the tractor drivers, general public and all those involved has continued to be really positive and our team of 80+ stewards and helpers are ready to deliver another successful event this year.”

Bookings for tractors to register for the event will open on 1^st November and close on 14^th November.  The bookings are all being taken online including payment of £20 using this link https://form.jotform.com/221352932936357 or call 01785 248645.

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