Learning how to operate machinery safely and confidently is one of the reasons the winning team from Usk YFC in Gwent make the Farm Machinery Skills competition a priority.
The competition, which is sponsored by Kramp, saw teams use a range of farm machinery and respond to a simulated first aid scenario at Staffordshire County Showground in July.
It's a competition that means a great deal to Usk YFC, so the team were delighted not only to reach this year's final, but to come away as winners.
“There’s always a drive to make sure farm safety is important,” said team member Dominic Hampson-Smith. “We do take it very seriously, as well as it being a competition. The lessons you learn are vitally important and hopefully that’s what we displayed – the ability to operate machinery correctly and safely and in an efficient manner.”
During the competition, YFC members are challenged to demonstrate their ability to operate machinery safely and efficiently, show practical skills in first aid, including hazard awareness, forward planning and the preparation of appropriate tools and equipment.
Rhiannon Williams took the lead on the first aid section of the competition for Usk YFC and explained how it felt when they heard the shouts for help in a dramatic scene created and judged by Arley Medical Services.
“My responsibility in the competition was to ensure overall health and safety on the site and to assist the other competitors, with the main part being the first aid scenario. In this case it was an amputation of a hand, as well as another laceration, which was quite a dramatic injury, but it was a really good scenario. It made the competition quite exciting and close to real life,” explained Rhiannon.
“When you hear the scream, you get a rush of adrenaline. We all start running to the scenario and try to handle the situation as coolly and calmly as possible, even though deep down you are panicking a little bit. We all worked really well as a team. As a first aider, I couldn’t do it without the other members of the team.”
It was a double win for Dominic, as he also collected the award for the best ATV Handling Skills.
“I’m really proud that I’ve not only come first as a team but also been recognised with my ATV skills by placing first with that as well. It’s really nice to acknowledge that the things I do day to day on farm to operate machinery safely are recognised at a national level,” said Dominic who regularly uses ATVs on his family farm.
“It’s important we know how to use ATVs correctly and safely. Across Young Farmers, we need to emphasise the point of farm safety and specifically ATVs.”
The winning team won toolkits from Kramp, as well as a visit to JCB’s headquarters. Team member Jason James has been competing in the competition for six years but this was the first time he had made it to the national final.
“First time to national – and straight in for the win, so I’m very happy,” laughed Jason. “I work on a farm and grew up around farming and this is a competition that is very close to my heart and the fact that it’s part of my life. It’s an extension of me and I really enjoy it.”
Despite their combined efforts, the team were still surprised to hear they had won overall, especially first-time competitor Harry Vimpany.
“I thought we’d lost! It’s the first time I’ve ever done the competition but it was brilliant doing it with the team at national and we won, so pretty good run at the start,” said Harry, who had taken part in lots of practice runs leading up to the final.
“We have a farmer in Usk who provided the kit for us, and we trained as a team and had quite a good few run throughs and have a good set of people there to support us.
“Everyone should give it a go.”
NFYFC’s Farm Machinery Skills competition is sponsored by Kramp and supported by CFMOTO UK, B&B Tractors, Farol, Border Plant, JCB, KUHN and Arley Medical Services.
