Field Day: Young Farmers Archives

All the world's a stage for the Young Farmers

My first reaction when I saw this was to think: I don't fancy the one second from right much.

Ludlow%20in%20costume.JPG

But they're costumes, of course - worn by members of Ludlow Young Farmers Club who were taking part in the Shropshire Young Farmers annual Drama competition at Whitchurch Civic Centre.

Nesscliffe YFC were declared the winners, with Alberbury runners-up and Wem and Dorrington taking third and fourth place respectively.

The standard of acting of Young Farmers has always been fantastically high. It's a little-known fact that Connie Fisher who won the How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria tv competition honed her acting skills in Young Farmers.

I can't wait until the big drama final which takes place at the national Young Farmers annual convention running in Torquay between April 27 and 29.

Posted by Tim on February 22, 2007 9:46 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Scottish Young Farmers in competitive spirit

Who says Young Farmers is just a chance to get drunk and meet a prospective partner?

Continue reading "Scottish Young Farmers in competitive spirit" »

Posted by Tim on February 27, 2007 10:54 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Essex Young Farmers cycle for charity

Essex Young Farmers are getting on their bikes in a bid to raise cash for good causes - literally.

A team of 20 will be cycling the 280 miles from the East Anglian county to Torquay for the National Federation of Young Farmers Clubs convention at the end of April.

Continue reading "Essex Young Farmers cycle for charity" »

Posted by Tim on March 20, 2007 12:05 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Young Farmer fun

The countdown's now on.

Tomorrow afternoon I'm heading west - driving to Torquay for the National Federation of Young Farmers three-day annual convention.

Continue reading "Young Farmer fun" »

Posted by Tim on April 26, 2007 11:48 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Torquay talk

Well, here we are then. In Torquay for one of my favourite weekends of the year: the National Federation of Young Farmers' annual convention.

It all got underway this afternoon and if you're wondering what on earth I'm doing writing a blog post at 10pm well, don't worry, this will only be a quick one while I'm wolfing something to eat and putting my dancing shoes on and then it's out to see the sights of Torquay.

There are nearly 4000 young farmers from across England and Wales in the Devon town. I spotted the first lot in the Fleet services on the M3: the pink shirts of Suffolk Young Farmers.

Continue reading "Torquay talk" »

Posted by Tim on April 27, 2007 10:28 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Seaside morning

8 am and it's like a ghost town here.

The sun's out but very few Young Farmers are yet. Guess most are still sleeping off their hangovers or preparing for the day's activities.

A wave of excitement went round last night when we discovered a journalist from The Sunday Times style magazine will be here to cover the event. Young Farmers style - now there's a thought.

Congratulations, incidentally, to everyone who walked or cycled or drove tractors to Torquay for charity.

I met up with a saddle-sore but very happy contingent from Essex yesterday evening who you may have read about on Field Day before.
YFC%20ESSEX%20BIKES.jpg

Posted by Tim on April 28, 2007 9:34 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

T-shirt time

Young Farmers are famous for their T-shirts.

Every year there is a vast array of them on display at the convention, all with slogans on the back. Some are clever, most are funny, a few are downright offensive.

Field Day can, of course, bring you the full unedited version of proceedings here, so we'll be publishing one or two of the T-shirt photos that are deemed too offensive to make it either into Farmers Weekly magazine or onto other (less judiciously edited!) areas of FWi.

Here's one to kick off with.

Posted by Tim on April 28, 2007 5:51 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Sand up and be counted

What I said earlier about Torquay being quiet, forget that!

Young Farmers are out in force and the town is buzzing.

The beach is a popular spot for a stroll or a kickaround with a ball and we caught up this afternoon with the 40 people who made the journey here from Kent.

Obviously Zoe Fisher needed to cool down in a hurry!

Posted by Tim on April 28, 2007 6:35 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Strutting their stuff

I've throw a few shapes on the dancefloor in my time. Not very well and often under the influence, admittedly, but I was well impressed with the Disco Dancing Competition this afternoon.

They were all brilliant, but the eventual winner was Rhosybol YFC.

Of course, I'd have been up there like a shot showing them how it was done if it wasn't for my old war wound!

Posted by Tim on April 28, 2007 6:47 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

Field Day is the one and only blog

Tonight's entertainment is about to start in Torquay, featuring Radio 1's Chappers & Dave and Chesney Hawkes, best known for his smash hit 'The One and Only'.

This is me backstage (OK, it was in the hotel but backstage sounds better) with Chesney. And no, if you're wondering, I'm not 4' 2", he was standing three steps higher up than me!

Posted by Tim on April 28, 2007 9:06 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

The only One and Only

This is Chesney on stage. Sadly, he declined my offer to take a turn on the keyboard ("but, Ches, I've got Grade 2 piano!")

Continue reading "The only One and Only" »

Posted by Tim on April 29, 2007 8:13 AM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

That'll be £20 please, Cornwall...

We had a beer and a good chat last night with a couple of the guys from Cornwall - and they bet us £20 the photo we took of them wouldn't end up getting used on FWi.

So here it is.

Please send the money (cash only please, gents) to me c/o Farmers Weekly. Alternatively, you could put it behind the bar for me at Blackpool next year...

Posted by Tim on April 29, 2007 1:44 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

It's a war out there

'Military uniform' was the fancy dress theme in the Riviera Centre for Saturday night.

Everywhere you looked, there were people in army camouflage gear. It felt like I'd inadvertently walked onto an army training base.

Continue reading "It's a war out there" »

Posted by Tim on April 29, 2007 1:50 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

More T-shirts

I promised you a couple more T-shirts so here goes. We spotted these two corkers on Sunday morning.

Continue reading "More T-shirts" »

Posted by Tim on April 30, 2007 9:03 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

A bit of drama

The drama at the convention is always a hotly contested competition and this year three teams were battling it out on Sunday afternoon - Buxton, Bedwas and Pelynt.

My favourite was Buxton who were performing a play called The Seven Year Hitch. It was about inheritance tax.

Now I know this might not sound a particularly funny subject, but it was hilarious. It involved a dead farmer in a freezer at one point.

The actors in the Seven Year Hitch were from Derbyshire. Apparently they had never played at such a low altitude as Torquay before!

Posted by Tim on April 30, 2007 11:12 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Video of Young Farmers

So, that's that then. Another Young Farmers convention has come and gone.

I'm back in the office today and flagging a bit, to be honest. Definitely need an early night tonight.

Lots of memories from the weekend. My highlights included watching Buxton's play in the drama, hearing all the upbeat talk about the future of farming at the Agriculture and Rural Affairs Forum and having such a laugh at the fancy dress party.

Don't forget you be able to watch a seven-minute video of the weekend's highlights soon. The link to it will be on Field Day tomorrow.

Posted by Tim on April 30, 2007 5:57 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Torquay - the video

We promised you exclusive video footage of the Young Farmers in Torquay. Click here to watch the seven-minute film.

Posted by Tim on May 1, 2007 10:41 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Good Times or bad Times?

You may remember when I was at the Young Farmers convention in Torquay, I met a journalist from the Sunday Times who was writing an article for the paper's Style supplement.

Well it's been published now, and you can read it here. Let me know what you think.

Posted by Tim on May 15, 2007 1:47 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Lincs YFCs battle it out

Here's a question for you? Where do you find 17 Clubs competing against each other in 79 classes, ranging from chariot racing to flower arranging?

Continue reading "Lincs YFCs battle it out" »

Posted by Tim on May 25, 2007 2:38 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

On yer (nine-wheel) bike

OK, so it's maybe not as brave as taking your clothes off, but you can't knock this lot for originality.

Continue reading "On yer (nine-wheel) bike" »

Posted by Tim on June 5, 2007 11:45 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Next stop, the Open?

2nd%20Green.JPG

Forget The Open, Scottish Young Farmers have been battling it out on the greens themselves.

Carluke YFC took first place at the SAYFC's National Golf Tournament at Hollandbush Golf Club yesterday.

Continue reading "Next stop, the Open?" »

Posted by Tim on July 16, 2007 12:22 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Don't be sheepish, it's for charity....

Young Farmers come up with some pretty wacky ideas when it comes to raising money.

Towcester Young Farmers are organising a charity event that's got a certain, how shall we put this, carnal dimension.

Continue reading "Don't be sheepish, it's for charity...." »

Posted by Tim on July 23, 2007 3:13 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Scottish Young Farmers fight it out

Fancy%20Dress.jpg

Eighteen out of a possible 21 Clubs took part when the East Region of the Scottish Association of Young Farmers Clubs held its recent rally at Methven.

Stockjudging, valuation, arts-and-crafts, fancy dress, digger handling and tug-of-war were among the closely fought competitions.

First time I saw the photo I wondered if the theme was 'The Wizard of Oz' – but in fact it was ‘the circus’.

You can see the full results here.

Posted by Tim on July 27, 2007 1:28 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

These boots are made for walking

Shropshire Young Farmers swapped their wellies for walking boots in aid of the local air ambulance with a 'Walk to the Welsh'.

They did a sponsored 60-mile walk from Shrewsbury to Builth Wells – coping with floods along the way – in three days.

Continue reading "These boots are made for walking" »

Posted by Tim on August 1, 2007 3:55 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Flower power

Who says flower arranging is just for the ladies?

Jeff Barratt - a plumber by trade - won the Young Farmers national senior Floral Art Competition at Staffordshire County Showground at the weekend.

“I’ve had a lot of stick about of doing flower arranging, but I’ll give anything a go!” says 19-year Jeff, a member of Brandon and Wolston YFC and one of only two lads competing at the nationals. “I did it for the club,” he says.

Continue reading "Flower power" »

Posted by Tim on October 15, 2007 10:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Nice to see you, to see you nice...

Haven’t thought about The Generation Game for years.

It’s one of those tv shows that mere mention of it takes me back to my childhood. Saturday evenings. Bruce Forsyth. Couples making silly things. The scores on the doors…

For me, it’s in the same “tv nostalgia” category as The Two Ronnies, The Onedin Line and Blue Peter (in the days when John Noakes was a presenter).

What’s got me thinking about it was hearing that there was a 'Generation Game' contest at last weekend’s big get-together of Brecknock Young Farmers.

Continue reading "Nice to see you, to see you nice..." »

Posted by Tim on November 22, 2007 9:10 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

He's behind you...

When they're not taking their clothes off, they're dressing up.

Essex Young Farmers are putting on a Christmas production of Cinderella at New Hall Preparatory School, Chelmsford, with three performances on December 20, 21 and 22.

Continue reading "He's behind you..." »

Posted by Tim on November 30, 2007 10:49 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

A good(ies) idea

… and when they’re not taking their clothes off or dressing up, they’re riding bizarre bicycles.

Continue reading "A good(ies) idea" »

Posted by Tim on November 30, 2007 12:37 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Tup-a-thon raises charity cash

Remember the tup-a-thon we told you about?

Well it's happened - and it raised more than £1,500 for the Warwickshire and Northamptonshire Air Ambulance. Well done Towcester Young Farmers. And well done to the sheep involved, too!

Posted by Tim on December 5, 2007 11:51 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Yorkshire Young Farmers show their heart

Rural youngsters in Yorkshire will soon be getting lessons on how to keep their hearts healthy, thanks to the efforts of Yorkshire Federation of Young Farmers Clubs.

The YFYFC has been awarded more than £5,000 from the national charity, Heart Research UK, to run an innovative project called ‘Hearts of the Countryside’.

Continue reading "Yorkshire Young Farmers show their heart" »

Posted by Tim on December 20, 2007 12:27 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

YFC news

It’s been a busy time for Young Farmers Clubs.

At their annual dinner and dance, Netherseal Young Farmers donated nearly £6000 to Burton Hospital.

Continue reading "YFC news" »

Posted by Tim on January 2, 2008 10:12 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Fashionable to be charitable

charity%20cat%20walk%20136.JPG It happens a lot in the Farmers Weekly office, but once again our sense of style has been shown up, this time by a group of young farmers from Yorkshire.

The East Riding of Yorkshire Federation of Young Farmers Clubs held a charity fashion show last week to raise money for the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution.

And there wasn’t a Naomi Campbell-esque temper tantrum in sight as more than 200 people showed up to watch models from clubs around the county strut their stuff in top country fashions.

Continue reading "Fashionable to be charitable" »

Posted by Caroline on April 17, 2008 2:05 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

A load of reporters, a video camera and a 'virgin'

It's that time of year again.

Young Farmers from across England and Wales will be getting together for their annual convention this weekend in Blackpool. It's going to be three very long days and three very late nights. A whole gang of us are going from FW so watch this space for news of the event.

We'll be out and about at the meetings and in the bars and we've even got a 'convention'virgin' coming along this year - Faisal. So if you see him, be nice to him. Here's a photo of him looking silly in our 'tractor face' competition.

In the meantime, if you want a reminder of what it's like, here's our video from last year.

Posted by Tim on April 29, 2008 8:42 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Say hello to Field Day's latest recruits

FWi%20YFC%202008%20team.jpg

What a motley crew.

This is me and four of the five reprobates I’m covering the Young Farmers convention in Blackpool this weekend with.

With the exception of two of us, all of us are too old to qualify as “young” farmers – 26 being the upper age limit for being a member of this organisation.

I’m considerably older than that, but at least I’m not as old as our photographer, Jonathan (he’s obviously not in the photo, because he’s taking it!) who’s positively ancient.

Continue reading "Say hello to Field Day's latest recruits" »

Posted by Tim on April 29, 2008 5:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (4) | TrackBacks (0)

Let the fun begin

I'm getting organised this afternoon for my trip to Blackpool tomorrow. My life will be entirely Young Farmer-orientated for the next few days.

If you're interested in YFC stuff, there'll be plenty for you on Field Day between now and Sunday. And even if you're not, it might be worth coming back specifically to hear about their (our!) antics.

Faisal (the 'convention virgin') has set up a special web page where you can find more photos from the weekend.

I've got a horrible feeling the other five members of my Blackpool crew are going to start posting on this blog soon. So be warned. On the subject of which, photographer Jonathan (the old one!) is polishing his lens right now. And no, that isn't a Carry On-style double entendre...

Posted by Tim on May 1, 2008 1:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Reliving the glory days!

Isabel writes:

Tim is letting me gatecrash his blog for a few days so we can share our experiences of the YFC agm in Blackpool.

I feel like a veteran having attended a couple there when I was young enough to be a YFC member (don't worry I'm only 33 which isn't THAT old). I seem to recall people cleaning their teeth with beer at 9am and some people having very complicated arrangements for hotel rooms which were all based around the premise that they would pull (the ones that planned the most, never did!)

Continue reading "Reliving the glory days!" »

Posted by Isabel on May 1, 2008 1:46 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

I knew it was a silly idea

Tim writes:

I should have known better.

Stupidly, I put my mobile number on the Farmers Weekly website yesterday - and suggested that anyone who had a story in Blackpool could contact me.

There was a message on my phone this morning, left late last night. It didn't make a lot of sense. I suspect alcohol may have been involved...

Return to the Field Day homepage

Go the YFC news, photos and video page.

Posted by Isabel on May 2, 2008 12:55 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

On the road again...

So, my first time at the Young Farmers convention. I don't know what to expect. Tim has briefed me saying that I can expect lots of drunken behaviour, nudity and some craziness and that's just the Farmers Weekly team.

As I type, Caroline is panicking as it seems she's not got her train ticket. Good thing is she's laughing but I think it's gonna be tears soon. Hopefully I won't see that as I think she's gonna get chucked off in a minute.

WAIT! I think she's found it. Just as the police were boarding looking for illegal immigrants she found her ticket. The moment is pictured below.

Live blogging at its best. (She's gonna kill me)

Posted by Faisal Alani on May 2, 2008 1:07 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

This isn't going to plan

We successfully managed to catch our train from Euston - the first half of our two-leg journey to the YFC agm at Blackpool.

Sadly, due to a technical fault we've just been chucked off the train at Bletchley. And the next train is over an hour away...

YFC%20renegades%20smaller.jpg

Return to the Field Day homepage
For our YFC news, photos and video page

Posted by Isabel on May 2, 2008 1:34 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

Proof

will%20self.JPG

OK, guys, you've got to use your imagination on this one - but, albeit from behind, albeit from a distance, here he is. Our pet celebrity, Will Self. Sad to say, he wasn't reading Farmers Weekly.

We've got to Blackpool and am rather worried. We haven't seen a single Young Farmer. Not one. It's not Torquay this year, is it?

Return to YFC news, photos and video page.

Posted by Isabel on May 2, 2008 6:28 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

Dining with the YFC

Isabel writes:

Overheard at breakfast:

Someone explaining that they had woken up in someone's bath after last night's do...

Return to the Field Day Homepage

Go to the main YFC news, video and photo page

Posted by Isabel on May 3, 2008 9:50 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I am not a tramp

Tim writes:

I'm in the Wintergardens (the location for most of the Young Farmer related activity this weekend) and thought I'd just take advantage of a free plug socket to quickly type up a story as my laptop battery is dead.

Some wag (and I didn't see which club he was with) has just tossed me a 20p piece and told me to go and get myself a cup of tea.

His mate said it was the first time he had ever seen a homeless person with a laptop.

Young Farmer humour at its best!

tim%20for%20blog.jpg

To go back to the Field Day homepage
Visit the YFC news, photos and video page

Posted by Tim on May 3, 2008 2:25 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Overheard at breakfast (part II)

Isabel writes:

...Peter Kay’s Is This The Way To Amarillo? Rubbish song. Too loud. Not what I wanted to hear over my poached eggs.

Go to Field Day home page.

See our news, photos and vidoes from the YFC covention.

Posted by Tim on May 4, 2008 1:46 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Down to business...

Tim writes:

Young Farmers have always been good at mixing the serious and the fun, and this weekend’s Agriculture and Rural Affairs forum is a case in point.

It attracted some really high-profile speakers – NFU vice president Meurig