Joining our club could change your life
This month I want explain what Shropshire Young Farmers is all about and highlight the fantastic benefits of being a member.
Shropshire Young Farmers is a rural youth organisation for members aged 10 to 26, affiliated to National Federation of Young Farmers’ Clubs.
The Shropshire YFC head office is based in Shrewsbury at the livestock market, and we have 18 clubs within Shropshire with just under 1,000 members. Led for members by the members, we are a group of hardworking individuals with like-minded rural attributes and a zest for life.
Historically, the organisation was formed for the ‘young farmers’ of the country. Consequently, we now still operate under the same name but as a much more open and welcoming society inviting all backgrounds.
The YFC motto is ‘Fun, learning and achievement’ and boy, we definitely cover those three elements!
Fun - YFC is the most fun organisation to be a part of. Clubs meet on a weekly basis for trips, tours, meetings and inter-county socials. We host dances, put on variety show performances and offer a dynamic social life comparable to nothing else. There is always something on or somewhere to go. Members have friends not just in Shropshire but all over the country and the world due to meeting through club exchanges or travel opportunities.
Learning - When I joined Whitchurch YFC 10 years ago at the age of 15 little did I know how much I would learn as being a YFC member.
The journey members take through the YFC years is incredible. We see so many members start as shy individuals unsure of the YFC benefits and finish as confident, adults with such important ‘soft skills’ such as the ability to hold a meeting, speak in public, compete in a range of competitions or debate on a passionate topic.
These ‘soft skills’ learnt are fundamental and a superb asset for careers and networking later on in life. Many members have got their jobs through being a YFC member and making use of every networking chance. It really does help to stand out on a CV or at a job interview.
Achievement - Most members start off in YFC understating the sense of achievements that they will gain as a member. This year alone, we have had a Shropshire member come fourth in the national Member of the Year competition picked from 23,500 members across England. Just this past weekend, Shropshire members have competed at the Three Counties Show in shearing, stock judging and tug of war competitions and I am so proud of all the members who took part and came away with place cards.
So if you know of anyone between the ages of 10 and 26 looking for a different club to be a part of, why not tell them about joining Shropshire YFC? It really will change their life!
Clarrie Hocknell, chairman of Shropshire Federation of Young Farmers Clubs.
