Shropshire Star

Farming talk: Holding our breath for chairman's ball under the sea

The Young Farmer’s year is drawing to a close, yet August and September seem to play host to our busiest months yet!

Published
Clarrie Hocknell, chairman of Shropshire Federation of Young Farmers Clubs.

With harvest in full flow, many of our members are busy working out in the fields. The prolonged heatwave has definitely impacted crops and animals and is causing a headache for some members. This is where the support and social life of Shropshire Young Farmers comes in to full force offering members someone to talk too and a place away from work.

Last Sunday, 67 members of Shropshire YFC had the opportunity to take part in a 20-mile charity canoe down the River Severn from Melverley to Frankwell. This challenge was one of 12 challenges that have happened this year to raise money for Shropshire Riding for Disabled and Lingen Davies Cancer Fund.

From an open water swim in Alderford Lake back in November, to a 100-mile bike ride to Blackpool to finishing with a trek to Peru to climb the Inca Trail in September, Shropshire YFC members get access to an unprecedented number of exciting prospects just by being a member.

August is the month we host our annual Chairman’s Ball and this year it is going to be held in north Shropshire, with an ‘Under the Sea’ theme.

The Chairman’s Ball is the main event of the year as not only is it an end of year celebration for members, it also acts as a huge fundraiser for the county organisation. Each year the location of the ball changes to follow the current county chairman. As this year the ball will be held in north Shropshire, bordering counties Cheshire, Staffordshire and Powys will be able to pop across easily to enjoy the festivities.

The theme also changes each year and this year’s theme offers an array of decorative opportunities all of which will be revealed the night of the chairman’s charity concert on August 23 before the ball at Coton Farm, Whitchurch, on the Saturday 25th.

The concert is held at the same location as the ball and is open to all supporters, sponsors and friends of Shropshire Young Farmers. At the concert, each club in Shropshire takes on a performance to impress the audience.

The concert also gives a glimpse of the decorative marquee ready for the ball on the Saturday. Tickets for Chairman’s Ball 2018 are now on sale with further details on our website www.sfyfc.org.uk and social media pages.

Clarrie Hocknell, chairman of Shropshire Federation of Young Farmers Clubs.