Members' Blog

“Over the last weekend in April, Bethan Jenkins, International Vice Chair, and I, Will Hughes had the opportunity to represent Wales YFC at the Young Farmers’ Clubs of Ulster AGM and Conference at the Silverbirch Hotel in Omagh.

Friday night started with the President’s Dinner. This was a great opportunity to catch up with members of the YFCU presidential team and listen to them reflect on their time in office on their final night before a new team was selected. It was a privilege for us, along with the Scottish delegates, to be part of this tradition.

A key part of the conference is the opportunity for members from all over Northern Ireland to get together and socialise. This year, County Tyrone were responsible for organising the Friday night disco, which had the theme “Oops, I’m Dressed for the Wrong Event!” From Minions and Mexicans to Baywatch and wedding guests, it was great to see everyone get involved and clubs coordinating matching outfits.

Saturday started with the YFCU Club of the Year finals, where the five finalists had to give a short presentation about why their clubs deserved the title. The clubs all demonstrated excellent dedication to supporting new members and their wider communities to ensure the continued development of their clubs. A huge congratulations to Randalstown YFC for winning this year’s title!

After a quick lunch, it was time for the AGM. It was great to see so many members in attendance, all representing their clubs by wearing club shirts and giving one last push to gain votes for fellow members running for Vice President by wearing badges and even branded umbrellas!

As the AGM went on, it was great to hear about the successful year YFCU had enjoyed before it was time to bid farewell to Richard Beattie following his two-year term as President. He must be thanked for all his hard work during this time, as he has been a fantastic ambassador for the organisation.

A huge congratulations to Kristina and the rest of the newly elected Presidential Team, and best of luck for the year ahead! It was great to see so many strong candidates running for the Vice President role this year, all offering something different to the position.

Following the AGM, there was an opportunity for members to socialise in the sunshine in the hotel courtyard while enjoying excellent live music and a fantastic atmosphere, catching up with both old and new friends.

The day ended with a dinner and dance, featuring excellent food, great company, and everyone in high spirits after a fantastic day. One of the evening’s highlights for me was a small charity auction carried out by James Morrison, one of the newly elected Vice Presidents, who also happens to work as an auctioneer.

After breakfast on Sunday, it was time to say our final goodbyes before heading home after a fantastic weekend.

A huge thank you to the team at YFCU for their excellent hospitality, and to Will and Mhari, the SAYFC delegates, for their excellent company. It was certainly an unforgettable weekend getting to know like-minded people and learning about how similar organisations operate.

I would definitely recommend anyone to take the opportunity to visit a Young Farmers’ Clubs of Ulster event if they get the chance — I can guarantee you’ll receive a warm welcome and have a fantastic time!”