Seven YFC members are vying for the position of Junior Member of the Year at NFYFC’s Competitions Day on 6 July at the Staffordshire County Showground. The competition, which is sponsored by Tama, saw the finalists compete in county and Area rounds to make it to the national final.
Radnor
YFC acts as a platform to bring people of all ages and abilities together, creating lifelong friendships. I am a firm believer that YFC provides the foundations for ANY individual to thrive, discover hidden talents and experience immeasurable opportunities.
As a confident, organised and sociable individual, I believe I fully embody the purpose of the YFC movement. I am passionate about encouraging new members, to ensure the continuation of this organisation, and achieve thriving rural communities across the UK.
Yorkshire
The thing that I love most about YFC is the way in which we offer resources to all members to become the agricultural leaders of tomorrow. The organisation gives members the skillset to go off into education, further education, or the workplace with confidence and in the knowledge that they are as best prepared for the unknown as possible.
Through the opportunities given to build on public speaking skills, to get new qualifications, and to broaden the perspective of the agricultural sector and the world as a whole, we nurture well-rounded individuals who will go into life with a head start, as well as an incredible support network.
In the past year we have lost a lot of members. It has been my aim as chair this year to make this change feel as natural and undisruptive as possible. I wanted new and existing members to leave at the end of the year taking pride in their club, and with an ambition to take on new roles and responsibilities in the next YFC year.
I'm incredibly grateful to say I have achieved this! From our new Public Speaking teams to the result at our county Rally, I have been incredibly proud to see their adaptability and willingness to get stuck in. I can proudly say that I have created a new club culture and put the structures in place for Farnley to thrive in the future.
Hampshire
YFC has always been a part of my family and always will be. It gives me a place to unwind after a long week at work or at training. At YFC we are not only learning to be stewards of the land but also ensuring the legacy of farming is preserved for generations to come. We are the next generation. It’s down to us.
Our commitment to community and collaboration fosters a vibrant, resilient agricultural landscape that benefits everyone even those not part of YFC. Young Farmers is not just a hobby, to me it's a lifestyle.
Winning would be recognition of my dedication and hard work in promoting the YFC.
My active engagement in YFC initiatives has helped raise awareness about the vital role young farmers play in agriculture and community development. I have consistently demonstrated leadership by organising events, sharing knowledge, and encouraging peers to join and contribute to our shared goals.
My passion for agriculture, commoning and commitment to the YFC mission have not only increased membership within my local club but also fostered a sense of passion and purpose among young farmers.
Wiltshire
A highlight of being a member of YFC is being part of a team, allowing those with similar interests to meet and socialise, while learning about, and growing an interest towards agriculture, and developing all important new skills.
Young Farmers can provide so many opportunities, through competitions, achievements, or experiences for young people.
Since joining, Young Farmers has played a major role in making me who I am today, and the chance to represent the South West and my home county of Wiltshire in the National finals is one of my proudest achievements.
I aim to encourage anyone interested to join Young Farmers, and to inspire all members to enjoy its many opportunities just as much as I have.
Lincolnshire
The opportunities it gives to all members, whether junior or senior. YFC has the possibility to give members the aspiration to achieve great life goals and steer them onto an incredibly good career and educational path.
Many people with club roles can be excellent role models for younger members and show them what YFC is all about.
I also love how friendships are formed within the club and wider at places like the annual rally and Youth Forum events.
It also builds skills and knowledge. Events with guest speakers and tours of sites can greatly improve the YFC experience. YFC also improves confidence through events such as speaking competitions.
I also love the family of YFC. The Young Farmers community is one massive family where you can share laughter and come together when times are tough.
I am passionate about encouraging involvement in YFC from new and younger members.
Over the course of this YFC year I have seen many new members become close friends and enjoy themselves in YFC. I have also encouraged many junior members to get involved with competitions so they can experience what is it we do at YFC.
I have pushed the Youth Forum at county level and with another member in a different club, we have created a programme for monthly Youth Forum events.
Staffordshire
I love the multiple opportunities that are offered to everyone in YFC. I enjoy the social aspects that come with it and I am forever grateful for meeting the friends I have through YFC. I am allowed to express myself in everything I do and show how YFC has developed me as a person.
I believe I should win because I give countless hours to my Club and County when and where needed. I have helped fellow members to seek the fantastic opportunities YFC can offer. Over the past few years the County and I have been trying to improve the availability of YFC to junior members within my county.
Bedfordshire
YFC is a place to relax and be yourself whilst still growing as a person in everything we do. There is never any pressure to be the best in your club or to have the most knowledge out of all members but instead it is a place to form your future and gain vital skills needed to move forward in life with a positive and encouraging attitude.
I love the way in which every single member - no matter your background, abilities, strengths or weaknesses – is given the exact same learning and growth opportunities. We become engrossed in every aspect of the organisation from competitions to weekly meetings and we provide a safe place to be ourselves and work out what that truly means to each individual member.
We always go straight for competition results and how many competitions entered that year. Personally, as much as I love and appreciate the variety of competitions and the work that goes into them from competitors, organisers and supporters, I believe that it all stems from the time spent with the club.
My confidence levels and trust have never thrived so much before I joined Young Farmers.
We all look for the competitions but without those stable people within the club, we would have not have the confidence to embrace the opportunities to gain new skills.
I try my best to give this to both new and old members, a place where they feel safe enough to relax and grab every opportunity possible. I don’t just want it to finish with me, by helping other members, I’m not only helping myself, but I also hope that I show them how to appreciate the organisation and to go on to show others.
