Celebrating oursuperheroes

Celebrating oursuperheroes

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Celebrating oursuperheroes

SUMMER 2009 The newsletter of the National Federation of Young Farmers’ Clubs

They say you shouldn’t mixbusiness with pleasure, but atconvention we do just that andwe do it in style. Inside this issueyou will find a round up ofwhat’s going on in Blackpoolover the bank holiday weekend,from the forums to the fun, andI’m really looking forward tobeing able to join everyone inenjoying the entertainment,sharing their achievements and

being rewarded for their efforts.I’d like to thank the NFYFC

staff for organising this year’ssuperheroes event and towelcome back James Eckley.It’s great to have him backfighting fit and pouring all hiscustomary energy into the role.

I’d also like to thank executivelead Pamela Ledgard for all thehard work she has put in tobringing staffing levels up to

strength. There are many newfaces at the national office as aresult and James will introducethem to you inside thisnewsletter. I was able to meetsome of the new team at thestaff conference and I’d like toask you all to offer thenewcomers all the support theyneed while they get used totheir new roles.Continued on page 2

Here I am already half way through what is proving to be a fantastic and verybusy year in office. And what better time to take the chance to tell you allwhat’s been going on than on the eve of our annual convention – whenmembers come together to celebrate the year’s achievements.

w w w . n f y f c . o r g . u k

ChairmanBryce Mackellar

It is good tobe back andto see themany newfaces thathaverecentlyjoined theteam.

Welcometo new

competitions and eventsofficer Emily McMahon, whoarrived just in time for theannual convention. You will see

more from Emily throughout thecompetitions year.

Training and developmentofficer Joanne Bouchard isresponsible for the NFYFCtraining programme and hasalready organised a verysuccessful Health and SafetyAwareness training event inpartnership with the Health andSafety Executive. She has alsobrought the Duke of EdinburghAward into the portfolio.

PR and publications officerAnna Avino will edit and

produce ten26 and the annualreport, work on the content ofthe NFYFC website and handlePR for the NFYFC.

Emily Johnson is the friendlyvoice answering the phones atthe Stoneleigh office andsupporting all staff through ahuge variety of administrationtasks. Emma Pheasey has alsojoined the administrationdepartment.

While Cath Sykes is away,youthwork development officerJodie Stirrup will help to continuethe NFYFC youth agenda, whichsupports club activities.

Executive lead PamLedgard joined in my absenceto support the team and recruitthe new staff to their roles. Pamwill be with the federation intothe spring to implement theNFYFC personnel policies anddocumentation, and assist theworking party reviewing thegovernance role of the NFYFCboard of management.

A working party has startedlooking at the changes neededto make sure the board ofmanagement has thenecessary input to effectivelymanage the NFYFC and itsaffairs in line with currentlegislation, and itsrecommendations will bediscussed in June.

Key work also alreadyunderway includes the reviewof the NFYFC training

programmes, which are beingput through an accreditationscheme to ensure YFC trainingis the same quality across thewhole organisation.

The federation has tocontinue to respond to thetightening of laws regarding childprotection, and furtherinformation and guidance on therequirements for every YFC cluband county federation will beissued following a review of thesafeguarding policy and guides.

The impact of increasedlegislation at all levels affectsthe direction of the federation,and the NFYFC is in theprocess of prioritising itsresponsibilities and therequirements of members.

2

New additions to the team

For more YFC news go to www.nfyfc.org.uk

399Unique visitors a day

The website is receivingmore hits all the time and isnow averaging 399 uniquevisitors a day.

September will see thelaunch of the new countydatabase which will begin theprocess of linking the websiteand database allowingmembers to login, take part insurveys and polls, createhomepages, and more.

Thanks also to Lionel Hill,Jon Sarsfield and Chris Lloydfor the work they put in whileJames was away, and also forsetting the scene for a reviewof the board of managementto ensure it is more businessfocused and proactive inundertaking its responsibilities.

It was great to see somany members attending avery upbeat councilweekend, taking such a keeninterest in the agenda andjoining in the discussion. Keepup the good work, keep yourfingers on the pulse of what’sgoing on and make sure it iscommunicated back to themembership!

A special highlight for meso far was the opportunity to

join NFU president PeterKendall, and former ARACchairman Rob Harrison, nowchairman of the NFU NextGeneration Dairy Board, atthe Next Generation breakout session at the NFUconference, where I was alsoasked to table a question toMinister for Farming and theEnvironment Jane Kennedy.

Looking ahead, it will begreat to see the teams takingpart in the Royal Show andRoyal Welsh Show and itwould be fantastic to be ableto get to as many county andregional events as possible, soplease keep the invitationscoming!

Celebrating our superheroes (continued from front)

New faces: (Front l-r) Anna Avino, Jo Bouchard, James Eckley, Pam Ledgard, Sarah Palmer and Emily McMahon.(Back l-r) Sandra Bromley, Emma Pheasey, Emily Johnson and Kevyn Williams.

NEWS

BBrrycee Mackkeellarr

James Eckley

October saw a new category added to the Sports & Speakingevent held at Staffordshire County Showground.

Taking a leaf out of the Welsh competition book, it was decidedto trial Junior Reading for the 10 14 age range to encourageyounger members to have the confidence to speak up.

Julia Sparkes, last year’s competitions chairwoman, wasdelighted with the very high standards at the event. “Competingat national level helps you develop a lot of self confidence andlearning to speak in public is an incredibly valuable life skill. Thetrial went well.”

It was a bumper year forapplicants wanting to travelabroad with Discovery, theNFYFC international travel andexchange programme.

More than 80 hopefulmembers from all over thecountry applied for the chanceto journey and learn aboutagriculture and rural issuesacross the globe at the selectionday, held in December at theNFU Mutual headquarters inStratford upon Avon.

Applicants were quizzed onfacts about the country theywanted to visit as well as newsand current affairs and the YFC.

This year 64 members will beadventuring in far flung placesincluding Australia, Argentina,Kenya and New Zealand, andcloser to home in Scotland,France and Northern Ireland.

Organiser Kate Nancarrowsaid: “Discovery offers a uniqueexperience at a reallygrassroots level to learn abouta culture by staying with ruralfamilies and being shownaround their lives andcommunities.

“It is incredibly motivating forthose selected to have thechance to be an ambassadorfor YFC and gain a really positive

achievement to put ontheir CV. It is fantastic tohear all the stories whenmembers return from theirtravels.”

This summer Discoverywill also welcomeexchangees from partnerorganisations in Australia,Austria, Canada, Germany,Switzerland and Norway,who will be staying withmembers and their familiesall over England andWales so look out forthem at events andshows and give them agood welcome.

3 f u n , l e a r n i n g & a c h i e v e m e n t

A brand new Health and SafetyExecutive (HSE) training courseaimed at tackling the maincauses of farming related deathsand injuries attracted more than70 members and associates tothe first session in February.

Members from Kent, Surreyand Dorset, keen to add totheir health and safetyknowledge, travelled longdistances for the potentiallylife saving event devised bythe HSE and delivered inpartnership with the NFYFC atKingston Maurward College inDorchester.

Six teams observedpractical demonstrations ontopics including machinerymaintenance and hydraulics,manual handling, ATV safety,working at height, safe use oftelehandlers and livestockhandling. The safety issuescovered are responsible for thehighest number of fatalities and

ill health within the farmingindustry.

Organisers and attendeeswere pleased with the qualityof the training, which wasdescribed as ‘an informative,

well put together andinteresting evening’, by Dorsetcounty chairwoman Lou Trim.

Head of Safety for the HSE’sagriculture sector Alan Plomsaid: "The positive response and

enthusiasm shown by thosewho attended wasoverwhelming. We areparticularly keen to providepractical advice on sensiblehealth and safety precautionsto young people who are thelife blood of the industry forthe future."

NFYFC training anddevelopment officer JoBouchard commented: “Goodcommon sense, no nonsenseinstruction was given on howto complete farm jobs withminimal risk. I was also reallypleased the event attractedcoverage by FarmersGuardian and Farm Radio,proving there is media interestin the course at county level.”

The HSE has made thetraining course available tocounties free of charge. Toarrange a session, telephoneJo on 02476 857207 or emailjoanne.bouchard@nfyfc.org.uk.

Voyage of Discovery

Get together with YoungFarmers from across thecountry to experienceuniversity life during this year’staster event at Harper Adams.

Try out two days of life oncampus and take part inlectures and practicalactivities related to agriculture,engineering, animal, businessand land based subjectsduring the Higher EducationChoices (HEC) conference for16 to 18 year olds.

As well as trying outuniversity level studies, thosevisiting the Shropshire campuson July 6 and 7 will have thechance to sample living inhalls of residence, make newfriends and party a bit, too.

The fee is £25, includingmeals, accommodation andentertainment, or £35 whentwo people apply together.

For more information or tobook your place, visitwww.harper-adams.ac.uk orcall HEC coordinator SallyBishop on 01952 815265

The new venue for the 2009Floral Arts and Cookerycompetitions finals will bethe Malvern Autumn Show.It will be held over theweekend of September 26-27, so even if you are notcompeting, don’t forget togo along to support yourfriends and enjoy a day atthe show.

Success for new safety course

Juniors in fine voice Flower power

NEWS

Blackpool’s Winter Gardens areall ready to host anotherfun-filled May bank holidayweekend for the 2009 NFYFCannual convention.

The stages are set for threedays of great music andentertainment from a line up offantastic bands plus thecompetitions and pantomimefinals, and members will once

that will shape theorganisation in the yearahead and into thefuture. It is here that theyear’sachievementarecelebratedand rewardedby thepresentation ofthe trophies andawards.

After lunchthere is thechance to putyour knowledgeto the test in thewritten pub quiz, lloud at theon stage antics in the NationalPantomime final, and singalong with live band Lucas forRockaroke, before the BogusBrothers bring the weekendto an exciting end with theirunique brand ofchoreographed mayhemand explosive sound at theYFC club shirt night.

5 f u n , l e a r n i n g & a c h i e v e m e n t4For more YFC news go to www.nfyfc.org.uk

bbuussiinneessss &&ANNUAL CONVENTION 2009

AA ffuunn--ppaacckkeedd mmiixx ooff

as Bogus Brothers

pplleeaassuurree Don’t miss a thing...FridayMay 11pm-6pm, 9pm-midnight: Registration9pm-2am: Live bandBBaallttiicc DDoonnkkeeyyss(Dress: Black tie/lounge suit)

SaturdayMay 210am-1pm, 3pm-6pm, 9pm-midnight:Registration10am:YFC Member of the Yearprivate interview10.30am-12.30pm:Agriculture and RuralAffairs Forum1.30pm-5pm:Strictly Ballroom final3pm-5pm:Live bandMMaaddee iinn EEnngglaanndd9pm-2am:NRGWWhiittee Vaann MMaann & disco(Theme: Superheroes)

SundayMay 310am-1pm, 3pm-6pm,9pm-11pm:Registration10.30am-12.30pm:Annual General Meeting1.30pm-3pm: Written Pub Quiz2pm-3pm:National Pantomime final(including presentation of award for YFC Member of the Year)3pm-5pm:Luuccaas Rockaroke (karaoke with a live band)9pm-2am:Live bandBBooggus BBrrootheers(Theme: Club shirts)

Slope off...

White Van man

Lucas

NFYFC, YFC Centre, 10th Street, Stoneleigh Park, Kenilworth, Warwickshire CV8 2LGTelephone: 024 7685 7200 Fax: 024 7685 7229 E-mail: post@nfyfc.org.uk

NATIONAL FEDERATION OF YOUNG FARMERS’ CLUBS“Fun, Learning and Achievement”

Make adate...

Summer 2009

May1-3

Annual Convention,Blackpool

June11-13

South of EnglandShow, Ardingly

July7-10

Royal Show,Stoneleigh Park

July20-23

Royal Welsh Show,Builth Wells

What does climate change mean to you?Climate change and the need to protect theenvironment have never been so high on the

agenda worldwide for gov-ernments, organisations andbusinesses, as well as

individuals. Its impact on farming

is so important that it hasbeen chosen as the theme for this year’scompetitions to help Young Farmers takethe lead and think of the future.

Together with Farming & CountrysideEducation (FACE), we’ve put together a quizfor members aged 10-14 to illustrate some of

the ways in which climatechange could impact onagriculture.

Use the FACE worksheet andweblinks below to find the answers to thesequestions, and then tell us, in less than 250words, what climate change means to youand what you have done to be greener.

The answers, plus some of your articles, willbe published on our website later in the year.Don’t forget to tell us your full name, age,

and the name of your club.Email your answers and articles to:

climate.quiz@nfyfc.org.uk by June 15.

Q1 What do the terms global warming and climate change mean?

Q2 Agroforestry is one way to help reduce greenhouse gases. What is agroforestry?

Q3 UK farmers might grow different crops, for example navy beans, to adapt to changes inclimate. What are navy beans and where are they grown now?

Q4 Another new introduction might be sunflowers. What soil conditions do they need?

Q5 Tell us how climate change affects you and give three examples of how to be greener athome or at school. (250 words or less)

Download the FACE factsheet exploring climate change at: www.face-online.org.ukUse these weblinks to help you answer the questions:www.defra.gov.uk/environment/climatechange/index.htmwww.bbc.co.uk/climate, www.agroforestry.co.uk/agover.htmlwww.pccnaturalmarkets.com/health/1842003www.jeffersoninstitute.org/pubs/sunflower.shtml

F A R M G S J A S Z R SH E A L T H U L P N T NS B E C I E G A R O F AG N I D E E R B K I E PN B E K I P D O X T F SI E M H R N I Q A C M HT T C Q E S G P B E N OS T F A N T Z F I L X TO E Y T I L I T R E F KC R O M A N U A L S E OK B R E T U R N S U E SF I T A H W C X E L B E

In the five minutes to takes to fill in thissimple wordsearch, you could sign up tothe EBLEX Better Returns Programme (BRP).

EBLEX has already workedwith the NFYFC to producethe ‘Know what you arelooking at’ stock judgingguide, and now it would like

to work closely with the next generation offarmers to help them gain the best returns in thefuture.

The Better Returns Programme is a series offree training days, events and literaturedesigned to promote profitable strategies andbest technical practice for flocks or herds.

Contact EBLEX at the telephone number oraddresses below to learn more.

EBLEXFEEDINGBREEDINGCOSTINGSHEALTHFERTILITYSELECTIONSHEEPBEEFFARMFORAGEWHATIFSNAPSHOTMANUALSYFCBETTERRETURNS

EBLEX wants to help you

EBLEX BRPTel: 0870 241 8829 Fax: 0871 422 6205Email: brp@eblex.org.ukwww.eblex.org.uk