EVENTS and socialising are core elements of being a Young Farmers Club member, so the pandemic will have been particularly tough on the members of various clubs throughout Powys.
But, after club activities and county events moved online over the last 18 months, Radnorshire Young Farmers are back competing face to face and holding events again.
Matthew Price has taken on the role of county chairman for a second term, with John James returning as vice chair.
The competing year began in September where Radnor members got back into the swing of things with stock judging day which was held at Rhayader Livestock Market, with Lauren Kinsey-Owen, of Aberedw YFC, taking the title of junior stockman of the year and Elizabeth Swancott (Teme Valley YFC) taking the senior title.
Next up was the county quiz night held in Newbridge-on-Wye community centre, where Rhosgoch YFC members showed that they were the brightest sparks of the night to claim first prize.
Heading into October, members prepared for the biggest event they have seen in a while, a field day, held at Penmaenau Farm, Llanelwedd, supported by the Penmaenau family. Although is was a very wet day, Radnor YFC members were keen to be back competing and catching up with fellow young farmers and entries in all competitions were high, from flower arranging, through to cookery and fencing. After a long day of competitions, Radnor Valley YFC and Howey YFC were announced as joint winners with Edw Valley runners up.
November kicked off with Radnor YFC delighted to welcome a new support administrator to the office team, Lauren Morris, who is a member of Radnor Valley.
The next event in the calendar were the public speaking weekends, sponsored by NFU Cymru. Starting with the junior and senior members of the year competitions, James Nixon (Rhayader YFC) was crowned senior member of the year and Grace Licence-Law (Knighton YFC) took the junior title.
The junior members competed in the ever-popular junior reading competition, reading extracts from the book ‘The Last Bear’, with Dolau YFC members Tilly, Connie and Mollie taking top honours. Max, of Edw Valley, was the judges’ choice for best individual reader, a fantastic achievement competing in his first YFC competition.
The second weekend began with the senior after dinner speaking where members gathered at the Lion Royal, Rhayader, for a night of high-quality entertainment and speaking. The judges, Stuart and Karen Anthony, were highly complementary and impressed by the two members who stepped in last minute for their clubs; Becky Duggan (Penybont YFC) and Rhian Griffiths (Dolau YFC). Lucy Price, Ted Davies and Jamie Price, of Presteigne YFC, were the overall winners with Jamie also winning the best individual speaker trophy.
The following day it was time for the juniors to show off their speaking skills with Dolau YFC winning the junior public speaking title with Harrison (Llanbadarn Ffynydd YFC) named best individual speaker. The intermediate brainstrust competition was up next, and Edw Valley claimed top honours with Mark Nixon awarded best speaker.
Overall winners of the weekend and claiming the B Evans Trophy were Edw Valley YFC.
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