Keep eye out for blue tractor in charity challenge
It always feels like I'm just repeating myself when I say "what a month we've had", writes Shropshire YFC chairman Rhys Jones.
But there's really no other way of putting it. If you have or have ever had any connections with the Shropshire Federation of Young Farmers' Clubs, you will have heard or seen us out and about during these past few weeks.
Kicking off the month we had our pre- rally day at Knockin Village Hall on July 1 where the competitions included cookery, tug-of-war, farm business development, mule handling and so on.
There were some big competitions which got a lot of people involved and made for a great day.
The weekend after, we held our Shropshire YFC 70th Anniversary Ball at Ludlow Racecourse.
It was an amazing night which went very well.
We had a tent packed full of past county chairmen, presidents, current young farmers and guests.
Thank you to everyone who came and to everyone who helped out and thank heavens that I thought to bring spare diesel in case the generator ran out.
June 21, as you may well be aware, brought the annual county rally at The Rolly, Knockin, with the theme of Australia Down Under.
It was a genuinely incredible event organised by Rob Hamlett, Kate Windsor and their team.
They really who did young farmers justice in showing off the weird and wonderful talents that all our members have.
Competition entries packing out every shed and every hour of the day were all of a great standard and everyone deserves a "well done" and a "fair play, mon".
We even had the Shrewsbury mayor Councillor Beverly Baker pop in for a look round.
I didn't quite manage to persuade her to do any possum racing with me but she did a bit of stock judging and cuddled a live crocodile, so fair play to her.
The main stage shed was full to the brim for prize-giving and what a great atmosphere there was.
Lots of cups given to loads of hard working clubs but the big "well done" goes to Whit and Os YFC for taking the overall cup.
So looking forward quickly into July, this weekend brings us my chairman's charity challenge – the Pedal Powered Tandem Tractor Tour.
Make sure you keep an eye out for the little blue tractor as we go for the round-the-county-in-one-weekend trip.
Please donate generously to the chosen charity – The Brain Tumour Charity.
Donations of Vaseline and Savlon also welcome.
And thank you in advance for everyone who gets in on the action.
See y'all out there.
