Wales YFC News

In mid-October, Wales YFC had the opportunity to welcome members from the Young Farmers’ Clubs of England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Ireland to Wales for the annual Five Nations Conference. Throughout the week, participants enjoyed educational visits, cultural activities and outdoor adventures, while exploring Welsh traditions, discovering rural businesses and experiencing new opportunities. Supported by the NFU Mutual Charitable Trust, the programme combined learning and personal development opportunities with social activities designed to encourage teamwork and build friendships between the nations.

The programme began with participants arriving at Glan-llyn Isa, where they settled into their accommodation before sharing an evening meal together. This provided an opportunity for everyone to get to know one another and prepare for the activities ahead.

Thursday morning started with an official welcome, followed by a presentation from guest speaker Wyn Williams, giving the group the chance to hear from an experienced leader. No visit to Glan-llyn would have been complete without the opportunity to get out onto Llyn Tegid (Bala Lake) for a raft-building activity, followed by archery sessions.

Later in the day, guest speaker Sam Carey spoke to the group about his journey in agriculture and how he has progressed in his career. It was a highly inspiring presentation, encouraging everyone to make the most of opportunities as they arise and not be afraid to take risks. That evening, participants enjoyed a traditional Welsh folk dancing session led by Gareth Huws, giving everyone a taste of one of Wales’s oldest traditions. This was followed by a nations presentation session, where each group explained how their organisation operates and shared regional treats from their respective countries.

Visiting a variety of businesses involved in manufacturing, agriculture, food production and rural enterprise formed a key part of the programme. The first visit was to Ifor Williams Trailers, where participants learned about the manufacturing business and the products it produces and exports around the world. The group then visited Rhug Estate, where they learned more about the various enterprises operating there and enjoyed tasting Rhug’s produce over lunch. The visit provided an opportunity to explore a rural business and consider the role such enterprises play in supporting local communities and the wider economy.

The group then moved on to Llaeth y Llan, where they learned more about the dairy industry and food production and, of course, sampled the products before leaving. The programme continued with a visit to Gwinllan y Dyffryn Vineyard, introducing the group to one of Wales’s many examples of business diversification.

These visits highlighted the wide variety of businesses operating in rural Wales and demonstrated how manufacturing, agriculture and food production work hand in hand to support local economies. They also provided an opportunity to discover different industries, broaden knowledge and gain a greater appreciation of what it takes to run successful businesses.

Food and drink remained a central theme during the next stage of the programme as participants took part in the Wales Food and Drink Challenge, where they were tasked with designing a product and developing a marketing strategy for a specific target audience. The activity celebrated Welsh produce and encouraged the group to recognise the success of products made in Wales and sold across the UK and around the world.

On Saturday, the group visited Zip World Llechwedd, where they took part in Bounce Below and underground golf. These activities provided an exciting change from the educational visits, encouraging participants to try something different, build confidence and enjoy challenges together in a unique environment.

The programme concluded with a social evening in Bala. Through its combination of practical learning, new experiences and social activities, the programme demonstrated the value of bringing people together to explore different industries and cultures. It provided participants with the opportunity to develop their understanding, discover new interests and create memories that will last a lifetime.