Rural voices rang out at NFYFC’s Competitions Day in Staffordshire this July, where six of the best YFC choirs across England and Wales competed in the national Show Choir final.
Nine members of Pailton YFC in Warwickshire won the competition with their renditions of Oasis’ Don’t Look Back in Anger and The Jackson’s Blame it on the Boogie.
The club incorporated dancing into their performance and impressed the judges with their movement and harmonisation.
County Chair Katy Walsh said the club had watched the Hawkstone Farmers’ Choir for inspiration.
Katy said:
“I think it’s really good we’ve got the Hawkstone Farmers’ Choir. I think they’re an inspiration to everybody in Young Farmers and they’re making choir cool, so now we’re fitting in,” said Katy who found taking part had boosted the club’s mental health.
“I think doing group activities in general helps with anybody’s mental health but sometimes we’ve had sessions where we turn up and we’re not so keen but once we’ve finished the session, we’re a lot happier and bubblier and we don’t really want it to stop.
“It’s helped us and it really puts things into perspective when we’re all together – it can actually be just a bad day, not a bad life.”
A young team from Oxfordshire FYFC also competed in the choir competition, supported by their club leader Grace Blackwell, who is also a member of the Hawkstone Farmers’ Choir.
Grace attended Competitions Day and said: “You were all brilliant and we enjoyed watching you all. Congratulations on your performances.”
The choir performed to a packed room at the Staffordshire County Showground in July and kicked off an afternoon of entertainment. Afterwards, YFC members also treated the crowd to energetic routines in the national final of Commercial Dance.
Members from Cumbria Federation of Young Farmers’ Clubs won the top title – beating their third place in Ballroom the previous year.
Ben Handley from Kent Estuary YFC said the dance group, most of which had only ever danced in YFC, had bridged a gap in their district.
“I just feel like we have become so close. We’re all from different clubs in Cumbria, where it can be competitive between clubs, but I feel like coming together and being part of a team together has broken that sort of thing.”
Since joining forces, the members who are all from the Southern District, are finding they’re more likely to support other clubs’ events now as they know a familiar face.
There was even more creativity on show with NFYFC’s Cube Exhibit, with nine teams displaying their interpretation of the theme Our Favourite Place. The winner Llanllwni YFC from Carmarthenshire County Federation used Lapland as their inspiration.
“We picked Lapland due to the inspiration from Megan, our youngest member,” explained Siriol Howells. “She described her magical experience in Lapland, and we were so mesmerised that we decided it might be our favourite place as well.”
The cube included five difference crafts, which were split between the team members. Their Lapland themed cookery included a chocolate log cake with gingerbread houses, a metalwork reindeer, white roses for the floral art, which represented the snow and a Santa made out of British Wool – one of the material requirements this year.
Betsan Jones, who created the woollen Santa, used wool from her family’s farm in Wales.
“The whole Santa was made out of British Wool. The body was made out of a Welsh wool blanket. I stuffed it with sheep’s wool and the clothing I made out of popular brand the Melin Tregwynt blanket material and the black beard was made out of Welsh sheep’s wool – all from my own farm.”
During the day, YFC members competed in a total of 13 competition finals, which have all helped members develop new skills, build confidence and form new friendships.
Young people were tested on a range of Public Speaking competitions, as well as a chance to showcase their farming skills.
Competitions Chair Sophie Olds said:
“Competitions Day is a celebration of the skills Young Farmers have been learning and practising throughout the membership year. Following on from the Hawkstone Farmers’ Choir’s success in Britain’s Got Talent this year, it was really special to hear Young Farmers singing together and also hearing how practising for this competition had supported their mental wellbeing too.
"There's a competition to suit everyone in YFC, and these creative challenges not only bring members together but also inspire them to build confidence, think creatively and develop new skills.”
