It has been two years since Curly’s Farm opened its Young Farmers’ Club on the Isle of Sheppey – the first one in this rural community’s history.
The club prides itself on being inclusive and open to everyone – just like the ethos behind the farm itself.
Curly’s Farm is a working farm set in 10 acres of the Kent countryside. It was founded in 2019 and is a registered children’s charity and training centre.
The farm was developed around the figurehead of the charity – Curly, who is a full-time wheelchair user. It was designed to be accessible to everyone with additional needs; a place where they can learn and develop their farming and livestock handling skills.
Kyle Ratcliffe, owner of Curly’s Farm, Curly’s dad and President of Curly’s Young Farmers’ Club, revealed more out more about their inclusive YFC.
We have young people, aged from 10 to 25, with and without disabilities who are members of our club.
We have members with additional needs, including autism, ADHD, ADD and other disabilities or illnesses such as selective mutism, learning disabilities, epilepsy, diabetes and mental health issues.
When they join Curly's, they find other people like them and for some people this is a new thing!
Some of our staff members are involved in our YFC too and they also have disabilities.
Some of our members are 'in care' or are new to the care system. These young people can meet others in the same situation, as well as young people that have been adopted.
We have people from different ethnicities involved in our YFC, as well as from the LGBTQAI+ community and young people who choose their own pronouns. They will also be from a range of different education systems and backgrounds.
They all turn up on a Wednesday evening for the club meeting and are part of one team. Not one of our members is from a farming background.
There is no them or us, it's a team effort in everything that we do! There are jobs for everyone...we just need to find out what it is you like to do!
These young people have a common interest: the farm, showing their livestock and a desire to win. We celebrate what they all have in common, not their differences. That’s what brings everyone together.
Young people with disabilities often go to school with other young people with disabilities. Those in a main stream school, only have friendships from those schools. At Curly's Farm we have broken that mould – in fact I think we have shattered that mould to pieces!
I’m not a farmer and I run Curly’s Farm.
We have a member-led committee with a Chair and Vice Chair, a Secretary and Junior Secretary. We held elections for the roles and it was the first time some of our young people had voted. It was great because they could see democracy in action for the first time.
We now have other young people who are eager to take on the roles as they have seen what’s involved and the purpose.
We wear a uniform – a black and red hoody, which our members are proud to wear. We always remind them that when they’re wearing it they are representing the farm so their behaviour reflects on the farm too.
We are hoping to start competing in the YFC national competitions this year too.
This year we gained 66 rosettes, including three championships and one reserve champion (not bad for our second year of showing). This was an increase on the seven rosettes we gained last year.
It’s not because of one person that we got there – it’s a huge team effort.
When we first did the Kent County Show disabilities were really underrepresented. I was sure there must be farmers in Kent who have disabilities who still wanted to show.
We now work in partnership with the organisers at the Kent County Show and have a wheelchair accessible toilet with a hoist and changing facility on our stand.
All our members supported each other. It had taken one member two years to get in the ring, as she was so nervous. We had reassured her that it didn’t matter if she came and put on a white coat but didn’t actually take part because it would be a step on from the previous year. She went into the ring and got a third.
Some of the members want to work with the animals and be part of the Show but don’t want to put on a white coat and talk to anyone.
For instance, at the recent Kent County Show, one young man who is selective mute, wanted to be part of the team but didn't want to show. He became the 'Pit Crew' for the goat team.
He played a crucial part in the team’s success. He fed and watered the animals, cleaned and tidied pens and areas. He opened the goat pen gates as his team mates came from the ring in their white coats and led the goats to their pens, as his team mates took off their show ring uniform. He groomed the goats and made sure their health needs were met.
They all get a role. It’s a shared championship. Without that pit crew, we wouldn’t have done so well.
Some of our young farmers need too much support to be able to take part in the competitions but we wanted them to feel included too. We put on our own showing ring, and they paraded their animals and we talked about Curly’s Farm and introduced them as Curly’s farmers. They got to show their animals, had a round of applause and got to have that experience.
We have a can-do attitude. It’s not about what you can’t do.
Since going, the winners are sharing their learnings with other members of the club now about how they gained a rosette. It has lit a fire in them and they’re eager to take part in more competitions.
This shy bunch of young people who all met last September and sat in their own small groups, were all mingling with each other and recommending who should compete in what competition.
Find out more about Curly’s Farm here.
For more support and guidance on additional needs, see the NFYFC guide here.
