Each year at Newbury YFC is different, and the programme includes a mix of traditional rural and agricultural activities, sport, art, life and vocational skills as well as competitions that develop the public speaking talents and stockjudging for which YFC members have become renowned. The more formal meetings are held at The Waterside Centre, Northbrook Street, Newbury RG14 1DS, with the majority being held away from Newbury on farms and in the countryside. Meetings normally start at 7.15pm and end at 9pm on alternate Wednesdays but this can vary especially when we are out and about.
We also help to organise, alongside other Clubs in the County on a rota-basis, Pre-Show and the Country Fayre show-classes, our Members prepare for and take part in Club, County, Area and National Competitions and also volunteer at events like LEAF Open Farm Sunday, Foxglove Care Farm charity day and the Newbury & District Agricultural Society ploughing match.
You don’t need anything in particular to join us, and don’t worry if you’re not a farmer or know anything about farming. As long as you have a love for the countryside and wear sensible clothes/footwear and don’t mind getting dirty, then you can join in straight away!
Take a look at our 2023/24 News (below) to give you an idea of what we get up to, but please don’t hesitate to get in touch if you’d like to know more.
Newbury & District YFC 2023/24 News
By various club members
As always, we have had an incredibly packed year, full of competitions and fun! Our year kicked off in September with a cricket practice session at Hurst School. The value of this practice was later demonstrated in the regional competition—more on that shortly.
Next, we had a blast at the Newbury Show with our “Splat the Rat” and “Guess the Number of Balloons in the Tractor” stand, along with our usual fun and games in the arena, attracting potential new members.
Many of the team enjoyed a super fun and outdoorsy weekend at Avon Tyrell with members from across the county. This was a great opportunity to bond with members of other clubs, and for many, it was a real highlight.
As the weather draws in we spend a bit more time indoors and we are lucky enough to be able to meet regularly at Little Wyford Farm, thanks to the Englefield family. We had a creative vegetable carving evening, featuring many fine-looking pumpkins and even a carrot spitfire plane!
Our annual quiz night was a hit, with Newbury securing 1st, 2nd, and 5th place, and the seniors coming in 3rd! Next year University challenge but before that we need to defend our title next time.
We had an incredibly insightful evening learning about seeds and pesticides. Members were tested on identifying various seeds and learned that potatoes need to be sprayed around four times per week!
The team then tackled a marshmallow and spaghetti structure challenge. One structure reached over five feet tall, which was impressive since there were many sabotage attempts.
No December would be complete without wreath-making, kindly facilitated by Jane Wells, one of our Vice Presidents.
Everyone produced wonderful displays to raise money for this years charity, what a creative bunch we are.
Public speaking sessions also began, and it was great to see everyone’s confidence and enthusiasm from the start.
January was a busy month focused on public speaking, cricket practice, and float planning. After much deliberation we came up with a couple of ideas for the float – celebrations around the world or Valentine’s Day. After a vote, and rightly so, Love won so Valentines Day it was! We also visited Newbury Police Station, which was eye-opening as we learned about local police roles—exceptionally small cells not for the claustrophobic!
The county public speaking competition took place in Brightwalton Village Hall. Our members did amazingly well, covering insightful subjects like pet ownership and supporting British farming. Newbury secured 3rd place!
February and March was a mixture of competitions and life skills. We started with a great day at the county sports competitions for cricket and volleyball. Newbury came second in both. We also had a fabulous evening making bird boxes, with commendable attention to detail from our members.
Ready Steady Cook was a taster for the Pre Show classes and some fabulous dishes were cooked. One member even prepared a whole three-course meal, which looked absolutely delicious. We knew from this night we would be well represented at preshow. We had a couple of meetings preparing for the Pre Show stockjudging competition looking at ponies and sheep at Little Wyford Farm and also a great evening lambing at Strattons Farm.
Parents enjoyed a fun quiz night hosted by Shefford, which was a great opportunity to meet the wider Young Farmers community.
In April we visited Donnington Equine Vets and learned all about horse care.
We also spent meetings working on our float for the country fayre, making cupid costumes, pompoms, and love heart signs, painting, and practicing our club chant for the entertainment class.
It was exceptional teamwork across all ages and abilities, with everyone getting involved.
In between the preps for the country fayre we also managed to squeeze in a visit to the wonderful Faccombe Estates. What a place! We ended to meeting with a drink in their Jack Russell pub.
Our attentions were soon turned to the Country Fayre day. This is the highlight of our year and we are immensely proud of our members and their hard work – Newbury winning 1st place for Club chant, 2nd for our amazing float, 1st in the overage tug of war, and many team members earning points for all of the practical and exhibition classes on the day.
Special mention to Flo Waite also won highest individual points at the show and the Newbury team getting highest Intermediate points and coming a very commendable 2nd place overall. We could not be prouder of our members if we tried.
Some of our team joined the Shefford team in the National Dynamos cricket finals. Not only did they look the best in their cricket whites, but they also played the best and won first place! It was a proud occasion for all involved, not to mention those of us who headed up the night before and watched the England football team make it to the euros final!
We normally have a break in August, but this year saw the first of our series of Summer Socials. We love our club so much that members met each week to continue the fun. Lots of silly games, walks in the countryside and time to socialise. This is definitely something we will repeat again.
As we reflect on the past year, it’s clear that our club has thrived through a diverse range of activities, from sports and creative projects to educational evenings and community engagement. Each event has brought us closer together, fostering a spirit of camaraderie and teamwork. Our achievements, whether in competitions or community service, are a testament to the dedication and enthusiasm of our members. We have not only grown in numbers but also in skills and confidence.
Looking ahead, we are excited to continue this journey, embracing new challenges and opportunities with the same energy and passion. Here’s to another fantastic year of growth, learning, and fun with the Young Farmers!
Newbury & District Photo Gallery
