Wales YFC News

Wales YFC members from all over Wales and Herefordshire travelled to the Royal Welsh Agricultural Winter Fair to compete in a variety of competitions, held over the two days.

During the Winter Fair, counties competed against each other to take the honours in the Wales YFC stock Judging, Prime Lamb Producer, Baby Beef, Lamb Trimming, poultry jointing, decorating a chocolate log and the making a Christmas wreath competition to name just a few.

It is a delight to announce that all 12 counties of the Welsh Federation competed across the two days of the Fair, with a special mention to Ceredigion and Gwent federations for becoming the overall joint YFC winners of the Fair, with Pembrokeshire coming in the third position.

Following on, in the stock judging section each county could put a team of four members together (Under 16s, 18s, 21s and 28s) for each of the three classes; lamb carcass, beef and butchers’ lamb. Radnor and Montgomery were hailed overall joint winners of the Stock Judging classes, and Ceredigion received the third position.

Rural Affairs at the Winter Fair

On the Monday morning, Wales YFC, Dunbia and Sainsbury’s co-held a brunch to celebrate the 15th anniversary of the Lamb Initiative. During this event, suppliers and all three partners of the scheme engaged with guest speakers and enjoyed a bowl of cawl, made with lamb from the initiative supply chain. Suppliers, partner representatives and officers thoroughly enjoyed the event, and we look forward to continuing to build momentum for the scheme in the future.

Later on that Monday afternoon, the Wales YFC annual Prime Lamb Producer competition was held. There were three initial classes; continental, lowland and hill breeds. Steffan Thomas, Carmarthenshire won the continental class with his Beltex lambs. Sioned Thomas, Pembrokeshire, received a red rosette with her Southdowns in the Lowland class and Gethin Davies, Ceredigion, gained a first place with his Tregaron Welsh lambs in the Hill breed class. All champions and reserves then re-entered the ring to compete against each other for the title of the Wales YFC Prime Lamb Producer Supreme Champion, which was awarded to Steffan Thomas. Sioned Thomas was successful in earning the Reserve Supreme Champion and Best Stockman awards. And finally, the highest placed new competitor was Gethin Davies, Ceredigion.

Bright and early on the Tuesday morning, a handful of our members were busy preparing their calves for our Baby Beef competition. Angharad Davies, Ceredigion YFC, was awarded the title of Wales YFC Baby Beef Supreme champion with her heifer and Owen Phillips, Herefordshire YFC, was awarded Reserve Supreme Champion with his heifer. It is also worth noting that Jordan Chapman, Carmarthenshire YFC, received the title of Best Steer. The Best Stockman Award went to Jack Bodily, Gwent and the Highest Placed New Competitor was Will Edwards, Glamorgan.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank Dunbia for sponsoring both the stock judging and the Prime Lamb Producer Competitions again this year. We are also grateful to ABP for sponsoring the Baby Beef competition and look forward to continuing to build and develop these in the future.

Cywain Competition        

Later on that Tuesday, Wales YFC held a competition in Partnership with Menter a Busnes, the winner of which received a £1,000 scholarship and support from the Cywain project! The members competing had to create a business plan for a new (or existing) start up business that the competitor has within the food and drink industry. Submitted Business Plans included a product description, their differentiators, and marketing strategies and how they plan on growing the business in the future. The business plan also specified how the successful candidate would allocate the £1,000 prize money presented by Menter a Busnes in order to develop their business to be a viable one for the future. Later that day, in the YFC awards ceremony, it was announced that Huw Rowlands from Glamorgan would be the member receiving this scholarship and we wish him the best of luck in the future development of his business.

ATV Challenge

Working in partnership with Quad Bikes Wales, the Wales Federation of Young Farmers have run the ATV Challenge again this year, with the winner receiving a new Honda quad bike courtesy of the Quad Bikes Wales.

Wales YFC are also pleased to be working as a partner within the Wales Farm Safety partnership. The partnership aims to raise awareness of Health and Safety challenges, implications and how to work safely.

Working with judge Mr Sam Marvin, members were challenged to undertake a bike challenge, as well as completing a safety questionnaire.

With the prestigious prize of a Honda Quad Bike for one year up for grabs, along with a safety helmet for the winner and runners up, members from all over Wales competed in the challenge, with Radnor Valley member Sam Bowen winning the coveted prize. Lloyd Hammond, Howey YFC and William Jenkins, Lledrod YFC were noted as being worthy runners up.

Speaking about the competition and his success, Sam Bowen noted:

“What a great opportunity for someone to win a brand-new quad. Never did I think for one second, I would have of won it. An incredible prize that was kindly donated by Quad Bikes Wales. The key point of this challenge was safety, and it should be pushed more to farmers/workers as everyone forgets the basics from time to time and doing this competition just refreshes your memory. It was great competing, and it was extremely organised, and more people should enter. What have you got to lose? (They even give you a free ticket into the Winter Fair!) Thank you very much for everyone who organised this competition and I hope you have more entries next year.”

Wales YFC extends its grateful thanks to Quad Bikes Wales in their continued support of this competition.