STAFFORDSHRE YOUNG FARMERS
Amy gains a place on a trip of a lifetime
ack in December, seven
Staffordshire
Young
Farmers Club members
attended
the
NFYFC
(National Federation of Young
Farmers Clubs) Travel Selection
Day, as part of the application
process to secure a trip with this
year’s Travel Programme.
Run by NFYFC for members
between the ages of 16 and 26,
this is a unique opportunity for
local youngsters to experience
another way of life by actually
living it, see new places, soak up
other cultures and meet fellow
members of other rural youth
organisations similar to the YFC
in other countries.
There
are
fantastic
opportunities to participate in
organised
trips
and/or
Homestay exchanges around the
world, from one week study
tours,
to
three
month
Homestays. All the members had
to do to be considered was
complete an application form
and choose the country they
wanted to visit. After a day of
Interviews down at Stoneleigh,
in
Warwickshire
seven
Staffordshire members were
awarded with trips of a lifetime:
Among the seven successful
Young
Farmers
from
Staffordshire was 20 year old
Amy Nicholls, from Stone YFC
and 18 year old Lydia Allcock
from Leek YFC who will be
taking on the opportunity of a
lifetime, with a two week trip to
Ghana.
Local girl Amy gained a place
on the Team Travel trip to Ghana
where they will be staying in
bungalows in a village in the
Akuapem Hills and be looked
after by local people whilst
helping out with community
projects
in
schools
and
orphanages.
B
The team will help to keep the
kids entertained with activities
such as football tournaments,
music or arts and crafts. The trip
will also provide a chance to get
involved with a small farm
project in the local community.
Both Amy and Lydia are looking
forward to working with the local
school children to develop a
model farm and introducing
students to different aspects of
agriculture.
The Travel Programme is just
one of the many opportunities
available to all members of
Staffordshire YFC. Being a
member gives anyone between
the ages of 10 to 26 years the
chance to enhance their life
skills, make new friends and
have lots of fun. There are many
training opportunities available
to members, the chance to travel
abroad and to enhance learning
and confidence. Young people
can join from any background
and the myth of ‘young farmers’
all living and working on farms is
just that – a complete myth!
Members come from all walks of
life, living in towns and the
countryside. Clubs meet on a
regular weekly basis and are run
by young people for young
people and have the greatest
range of activities available
compared to most equivalent
youth groups. The organisation
is unique in its structure, as it is
the young members who are the
decision makers and this is done
in a very democratic manner
with the involvement of all
Clubs.
For more information on
becoming part of Staffordshire
YFC contact Julia Taylor, County
Organiser on Tel. 01785 248645,
email
countyoffice@staffsyoungfarmer
s.org.uk or visit the website
www.staffsyoungfarmers.org.uk
to find out more.
Pictured is 20 year old Amy Nicholls from Stone Young
Farmers on the back row far right with other Staffordshire
YFC members and NFYFC Mascot Supermoo after being
chosen to take part in a trip to Ghana this summer
February/March 2014 35