Frequently Asked Questions

 

What is Young Farmers all about?

The first Young Farmers was established in 1921 in Hemlock in Devon and there are currently over 700 clubs in the UK with HRH the Prince of Wales as the President. Young Farmers was organised as a way for young people in the countryside to socialise and meet others with similar interests. To be a member, in the beginning, you had to keep something that lived or grew, today membership is open to anyone with an interest in the countryside, you do not have to be active in farming to join. Anyone between the ages of 10 and 26 who would like to pursue their interests through a self directed programme of activities can join.

Originally, the club was set up to encourage young people to use better methods of husbandry and so improve the quality of livestock farming, today the programme includes stock judging, farm visits, debates, public speaking, sports events, quiz nights, social events and talks by a wide variety of speakers. You don't have to be good at any of the activities to join in, the fun is in the taking part.

Each club is run by it's members and they accept responsibility for their own activities and finances, electing club officers each year to ensure the continuity and vibrancy of the club. The Club is constantly aware of the changing needs of rural young people and the programme reflects the fact that nationally, over half the membership have no connections whatsoever with the farming industry.

Nidderdale YFC has kept scrap books of their activities from 1954 to present day and we have taken photographs and included them on this site in the Past to Present Day NYFC page.

We have tried to cover as many questions as possible on this page to help you with further information about joining and what happens at meetings etc but if you have a question that is not answered here please feel free to e-mail us at info@nidderdaleyfc.org.uk

How old do you have to be to be a member of Young Farmers? Between the ages of 10 and 26 inclusive.
How much does membership cost? Per year it is £10 for Juniors, 15 for Intermediates and 20 for Seniors.
Do I have to attend every meeting to continue being a Young Farmer? You are required to attend 1 out of 4 consecutive business meetings a year but after that it is up to you which meetings you attend although the more you attend the more you will benefit. Members who do not attend 50% of the Club activities may not be allowed to exhibit calves at Nidderdale Show unless they have a satisfactory reason for their absence.
Where are the meetings held? The official meeting hall is the Auction Rooms, Pateley Bridge although a lot of the meetings are held on different sites, ie farms, abbattoirs, other Young Farmers Clubs, the ice rink etc.
What day/time do the meetings start/finish? Most meetings are on a Wednesday and start at 7.30pm. Occasionally, they start a little earlier and you will be told this at the previous meeting or it will be in your schedule, it will also be on the rolling banner on the Home page of this site. Meeting finishing times vary according to where it is being held, it is usually 9.00pm and occasionally 11.00pm.
How do I get to the meetings if they are not at the Auction Rooms? Quite often there are spare places with some of the older members/club leaders in their vehicles. When everybody gets to the meeting point, usually the Pateley Bridge car park, people get sorted out so that everyone gets a lift who needs one.
Do I need any special clothing? Obviously you will be expected to wear appropriate clothing for the meeting, ie clean wellies if going on a farm visit, but the only special clothing required is a white coat and tie for competition judging
Can my Mum/Dad come with me to start with? Parents are welcome at the meetings, they are extremely useful at providing transport when necessary!
Who do I contact if I want to come to a meeting? You can either just turn up to a meeting (see What's on When page) or contact the Secretary for further details.
Do I have to be actively involved in farming? No - not at all. Anybody who would like to join may do so as long as they are within the required age group. Obviously it helps if you have an interest in the countryside and animals as some of our meetings involve dealing with livestock etc.
What is does Judging involve? There are four objects/aminals to study. You then have to rate them in the order ABXY as to their quality. You then give your reasons for placing the objects/animals in that order to the Judge and the Steward. Your performance in giving your reasons counts in the points.
Do I have to commit to joining straight away? No, there is a probation period of one month (four meetings) for new members.
Do I have to stay to the end of a meeting or can I leave early if I have to? There is no problem leaving early if you have to but if you leave a Stock Judging evening before the meeting is declared closed (without a reasonable excuse) you will forfeit any points gained in that evening?
What are points awarded for?  Attending meetings, 1st, 2nd and 3rd at judging evenings, participating in any competitions.