Joining the debate as a young farmer gave skills for life
The turn of the year is for me, always a time of reflection while becoming enthusiastic about the year ahead, and generally unbridled optimism that the forthcoming year is going to be a good one.
So in your periods of reflection what was on your mind, I hear you say. Well throughout December myself and fellow farming friend, Big Jim Davies from Alberbury, have been training the Alberbury Young Farmers debating team, something we have done for the last 20 years with I am pleased to say, some success.
When I was a youngster I thoroughly enjoyed debating and earned the nickname of Stalin from Colin Croft, which bearing in mind I was born in a tweed jacket and somewhat to the right of Stalin, always caused a laugh!
It is interesting where being involved in YFC debating has taken me, through the confidence of being able to public speak that led me onto Shrewsbury and Atcham Borough Council and then onto Shropshire Council and some 21 years of being involved in local government. My point is that YFC is a fantastic organisation that will give opportunities not only when you are a member but also later in life as well.
I am also President of Alberbury YFC at the moment and I have been blown away with their current charity money raising plan, which is to cycle around Wales for a week in June and hopefully raise £10,000 for good causes. On their last charity effort, which was running from Alberbury to Snowdon, it was almost emotional to bump into other YFC clubs on Snowdon, from Somerset and elsewhere, who were also charity fundraising - what a fantastic organisation.
The grain markets have been rangebound over the last month with both wheat and barley not moving much in price at all. Oil seed rape has taken a clouting and is now sub £290, a stronger currency is taking its toll. The good news is that Mrs Roberts' sheep have started lambing, so all is good in the world. Happy days!
David Roberts of G.O Davies (Westbury) Ltd
