Somerset Young Farmers

News

SUMMER IS NEARLY UPON US!

I can hardly believe the Rally and Bath & West Show are behind us but they really are and I hope you all enjoyed them both!

There is still plenty of YFC action going on so please read on and make sure you are part of it!

Anna xx

WEST GROUP "MOOR TO SHORE" RALLY 2008

Well - wasn't the 2008 Rally a scorcher?! I'm sure it wasn't just me who ended up looking like a lobster but at the same time it was a FANTASTIC rally and it was so great to see so many of you getting involved and fighting for the overall trophies!

Well done to Polden Hills YFC for winning the Overall Points Trophy and also to Kingsbrompton YFC for winning the Under 30 members trophy. I hope you are all very very proud of your achievement!

The sheer amount of entries was astounding and everyone in the county seemed to be out and enjoying the brilliant event!

Well done to West Group YFC for all of their hard work!

ROYAL BATH & WEST SAW A ROYAL YFC VISIT!

Somerset YFC had a fantastic week at the Royal Bath & West Show at the end of last month and thanks to everyone who helped out or popped in to say hello during a visit to the show!

The Stockjudging on Friday had a very good turnout and Somerset were lucky enough to win the overall Trophy with an astounding 465 points!

Despite the slightly damp weather we endured at various points the week was a very good promotional one for the Federation and potential new members left their details and these will be passed to clubs shortly so look out for those and please contact the individuals - they are all very keen but please remember how daunting you found it when you first joined!

The highlight of the YFC week was hosting a Royal Visit on Thursday afternoon from HRH Princess Anne. The Princess met the stewarding members, staff and County Officers and enjoyed a stroll around the marquee to find out more about Somerset YFC. She particularly enjoyed seeing the Handicrafts on display from the Rally so well done to everyone for working so hard on the Handicrafts!

I hope if you made it up to the show that you managed to come and enjoy the YFC marquee and that you had a nice day out!

JUNIOR CAMPERS…IT'S NEARLY CAMP TIME!

Junior Camp is just around the corner, 8 weeks left until you depart for Croft Farm, Tewkesbury on Monday 11th August for an action-packed few days away!

For those of you who have got your names in to County Office please fill out the relevant paperwork and forward it back to YFC with a cheque for full payment as soon as possible.

Places are going very, very fast but if you have missed the boat please do still call County Office as you can be added to a waiting list for any places that become available.

DATES FOR YOUR DIARIES - PLEASE SAVE IT!

Just a small plea from County Office now; please read the "Dates for Your Diaries" Section on Page 4 of your monthly newsletter to keep up-to-date with events coming up!

Not only does it feature social events which you may want to go to but it also lists all County Meetings and County Sporting and general competitions!

Please remind your members to have a read and also to keep up-to-date with the "Events" page on the website, www.somersetyfc.co.uk

Also remember that if your club is planning an event please drop County Office a line and check the date is available and put it in the newsletter and website for others to see! Nothing like free publicity!

GOOD LUCK TO OUR COMPETITORS! FLY THE FLAG WITH PRIDE!

Somerset YFC have a host of our finest members going to competitions in the coming month and they all deserve a mention and to be sent there with our best wishes!

Firstly there is the South-West Area Competitions Day on Sunday 22nd June at Lackham College, Wiltshire and Somerset have to wish the following luck:

North Somerset YFC for the Men's Tug-of-War

West Group YFC for the Ladies Tug-of-War

Polden Hills YFC for Efficiency with Safety

Wiveliscombe YFC for ATV Handling

Cutcombe YFC for Fence Erecting

Wiveliscombe YFC for Club Promotion

Brymore School YFC for County Exhibit

Bridgwater YFC for Junior Mixed Dodgeball

Our Rounders Team (whichever club wins the final! We'll keep you posted!) and our Senior Stockman and Young Stockjudge of the Year Teams from across the county.

The members that win at the Area Competitions Day will automatically be put forward for the National Finals, many of which are at the Royal Show in July so best of luck to them all!

The Royal Show takes place between 3rd-6th July at Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire and we are very hopeful to be sending plenty of members along from the above list. We are already sending the following teams and handicrafts to the show and we wish them all the very best;

Wells & Glastonbury YFC for Team Cookery

Chew Valley YFC & Williton YFC for Junior, Intermediate and Senior Floral Art

Joe Lane (Chew Valley YFC) & Rupert Weir (Wiveliscombe YFC) for their "Customized School Shirt"

Lloyd Tucker (Polden Hills YFC) & Samantha Cheek (Wincanton YFC) for "Graffiti"

Alice Hooper (Polden Hills YFC) for "Senior Painted Plates"

Tom Spencer (Brymore School YFC) & Eleanor Parker (Williton YFC) for "Junior Painted Plates"

We are also influencing the National competitions at the Royal Show in another sense this year as two of Somerset's finest are judging a competition! Andrew Creed and Michael Houlden, Wells & Glastonbury YFC won the Farm Business Development National Final in 2007 and will this year be at the show judging the competition so we wish them both all the very best for a successful day's judging!

LOOKING FOR A FUN YFC CLUB EVENING?

If your club is keen to have a fun evening then look no further!

Why not hold either a Beauty & Skincare night, Pet Evening or General Health & Wellbeing evening all using 100% natural Aloe Vera Products and get a donation back to your club based on any sales?!

Interested in free pampering for an evening or finding out more about the natural way to healthy living and gaining a donation for your club then please contact Anna from "BeaDelicious" on 07709 443268 to discuss some dates!

HELP SOMERSET YFC CELEBRATE 75 GLORIOUS YEARS!

For those unaware next year see's our wonderful Somerset YFC celebrate 75 years of being! We are looking for a novel and fitting celebration for our fantastic organisation and would love to hear from you with any ideas you have as to how best to mark this anniversary!

If you have any suggestions or would like to be included in planning committees please call either the office or Tony Walkers on 01823 662808.

HAVE YOU HEARD OF THE FRESH-START ACADEMY?

The report of the Policy Commission on the Future of Farming and Food 2002 states that the farmers of the future will "sometimes have to be group chief executive, marketing manager, environmentalist and precision grower in the space of a day or even an hour" in other words very adaptable and able to make key decisions on the spot.

Fresh Start Academies aim to help and encourage young farmers and new entrants into farming and related industries by providing them with the knowledge and skills to make the industry more sustainable. The Academies are part of the larger Fresh Start initiative, launched in 2004 as a response to the perception that farming is an industry run by an ageing population and one that was failing to attract the new entrants it required.

From day one, Fresh Start has worked to portray the farming industry as dynamic and modern in its outlook, full of interest and variety and high on job satisfaction. It emphasises that agriculture can offer relevant, fulfilling roles for scientists, mechanics and marketers, practical environmentalists and those with a real interest in crops and livestock. Fresh Start acknowledges that there is another side to recruitment in agriculture, particularly where practical farming is concerned. To bring in a new farmer, quite often an established operator needs to stand aside or embrace a relationship with the new entrant whether he or she is part of family succession or a potential share, contract or joint venture farmer. Many want to stop farming but are not sure how to achieve the goal of retirement while still maintaining a role in the countryside and a dignified exit - particularly where no family succession is in place. Fresh Start is working with industry professionals - rural surveyors, lawyers and accountants - to identify opportunities for joint venture, share and contract farming that brings new entrants together with retiring farmers so that each can support the other to provide the sort of future that both want to achieve.

The Fresh Start Academy is a ground-breaking initiative to help new entrants find openings in the farm industry. It involves three elements - business skills training and mentoring, with the possibility of identifying business partners via a matchmaking network. Following the successful launch of the Dorset Academy earlier this year, there are plans to launch a further Academy in Somerset.

For more details of the Fresh Start Academies, visit the Fresh Start web-pages for a full list of the contacts. www.defra.gov.uk/farm/working/new-entrants/freshstart or contact Katherine on (01305) 215167.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO DONATE REGULARLY TO YFC?

New County President, Ian Dyer, and Gillian Dosson, Membership & Accounts Secretary are currently setting-up a "Gift Aid" Scheme for Somerset YFC which will enable Somerset YFC to gain more from donations.

For those of you unaware of the Gift Aid Scheme it would enable Somerset YFC to re-claim VAT on all donations from UK taxpayers which will be a real boost to the Federation funds.

Forms for donations are available from the YFC office and more details are available upon request. So please dig deep and help support your county! Thank you!!

ONCE WEEKLY

NFYFC's weekly publication "Once Weekly" is now available on their website so if you like to keep up with the news National-styley log onto www.nfyfc.org.uk/onceweekly.html and have a good read!