Staffordshire County Federation of Young Farmers Clubs (SCFYFC) are continuing to rise to the challenge of operating during covid times and keeping their members connected. Following the announcement of Lockdown3.0 in January, members from the active clubs in Staffordshire have joined forces to hold county meeting nights, with each club taking a turn to host the event on zoom.
Members have joined in with Cheadle Young Farmers who hosted a full 30 minute body workout, which member Alice Naden led in January. This was followed by Chase Young Farmers who arranged for Daltons Ice Cream Farm, based in Wootton, to show members around their enterprise with a virtual tour and Q&A.
Staffordshire YFC County Chairlady, Amy Boothby said “The evening was a great success and very informative and interactive as well, which I appreciate can be difficult when holding events virtually. The hosts had managed to take short videos of themselves in action on the farm, from milking the cows to filling ice cream tubs, which we were all able to watch through Zoom and allowed us all to feel as though we were there in real life!”
Feedback from members was really positive, with the only downfall being that there was no tasting over zoom!
Uttoxeter Young Farmers are next to host a county zoom evening, on 17th February and will be organising a “Would I Lie to You” night for members to have some fun with.
Staffordshire YFC has members aged 10 – 26 years across ten clubs in Staffordshire. Club meeting nights usually run on a weekly basis, with a wide range of activities available for members of all ages including sports, public speaking, cinema and bowling trips, quizzes and farm walks. Although not all members are from an agricultural background, the clubs in Staffordshire are based in rural communities and provide the much needed social life, new skills and learning opportunities, for any young people, with an interest in rural life and activities. The Covid 19 situation has meant that Staffordshire YFC has had to adapt the youthwork service it provides to its members and clubs and so many are now embracing the new normal with zoom nights until restrictions ease.
As Staffordshire YFC looks to the future, the federation hopes to be able to plan some fundraising events and face to face competitions soon but, in the meantime, is continuing to support members and clubs in a virtual way using technology and social media.
