Wales Farmer 22 YFC May 2013


Rest assured, youngsters do theirbit to raisemoney


MEMBERS of Wales YFC’s Youth Forum recently took part in aYMCA ‘sleep easy’ challenge by braving the cold in acar park for a night. Eight members slept at St David’sCar Park, Cardiff, to raise awareness and money for young, vulnerable people. Wales YFC Youth Forum chairman Sioned Davies described the experience:


“Aswearrived, we were given


UNUSUAL NIGHT OUT: Youth Forum members Teleri Vaughan, Angharad Morgan, chairman Sioned Davies, vice-chairman Emily Lloyd, and Dave Andrew.


awelcome pack, while Jolene and Dave,who had arrivedearli- er,werescrounging cardboardin order to makeashelter big enough forthe eight of us,” she said.


“Webegan by trying to build awall which might give us some


warmth from the bitter March wind. Our artistic skills shone through as we decorated the shelter with amulti-coloured ‘Wales YFC’ sign, with splodges of mud, and with footprints; our very own‘Little Taf’ and ‘Tiff Fach’ whowatched on seemed impressed anyway. “At10pm, we watched videos


about the work of the YMCA; learning about their projects and the vulnerable people they help. It waspacked with powerful sto- ries,convincing us thatthe money raised from our sleep-out would be in aid of avery worth- while cause.When we returned to our shelter,wediscoveredthat half of it had fallen down. “However,Wales YFC’sactiv-


ities and international commit- tee chairman Aled Johnson


brightened up the night, in his beautiful baby-pink sleeping bag. It wassoeye-catching that he playedthe leading role in the Harlem Shakewhich we all took part in. Having fixedour shelter, and tried to save our fewbelong- ings from the rain, we tried to makeourselves (relatively)com- fortablefor the remainder of the night. “After catching afew hours’


sleep,wewokeuptodiscover thatDaveAndrew,from Montgomery YFC,had had no sleep whatsoever, buthad been helping the security team who were walking around ensuring thateveryone wassafe. “Weall packed away,loaded


up the cars and tucked in to our bacon butties –breakfast had nevertasted so good.”


European thoughts turn to the future of farming


THE future for young farm- ers in European agricul- ture was at the top of the agenda of aprestigious


conference. Jonathan Williams,Wales


YFC rural affairs committee chairman and vice-chairman Iwan Thomas,attended the European


Young Farmer


Conference in Dublin hosted by MacranaFeirme in association with CEJA, the umbrella bodyfor young farmers organisations in Europe,with 90 other European delegates from 26 European member countries. The theme of the conference


wasRDP –Delivering forYoung Agri-Entrepreneurs 2014-2020, and aimed to deliveraunified message from young farmers all over Europe to the institutions of the European Union regarding CAP reform. Jonathan Williams said: “It is


PRESIDENTIAL MEETING: Wales YFC rural affairs committee chairman Jonathan Williams and vice-chairman Iwan Thomas with Irish president Michael D. Higgins.


Fork out for special competition


YOUNG farmers’ clubs across Pembrokeshirehavebeen invited to help Haverfordwest Rotary Club celebrate75years by taking part in afood-themed competi- tion.


The From Farm to Fork com- petitions forprimary schools and YFCs waslaunched at aspecial gathering at the Mariners Hotel, Haverfordwest recently. Rotary years run from June to


June and in the run-up to the end of the 2012 year,rotarians hope young people will get involved with the competition which both have prizefunds of £750. Schools have been invited to


interpret the meaning of PembrokeshireFood –The Importance and Benefits of Local Food Production. Entries can look at avariety of


subjects,including natural resources,seasonality and health


benefits as well as anyother area relating to local food using any media they wish. The YFC competition widens


its scope to aglobal perspective and focuses on international issues. PembrokeshireYFC county


chairman, Michael Harries,said: “Wehavejust set up our own rural affairs committee looking at promoting local produce and showing what’s on offer.Wecan be very proud of Pembrokeshire and we look forwardtoworking with Haverfordwest Rotary in the next fewmonths. “Weappreciate the support


and the opportunity.” The Rotary club has worked


with PembrokeshireCounty Council on the scheme and has been sponsored by Castell Howell Foods,PuffinProduce, Capestone and First Milk.


President of Pembrokeshire


Agricultural SocietyMichael Davies said the competition was apositive initiative to involve young people in discovering moreabout food production, both locallyand abroad. “Without the young people in


farming the futureoffarming will be threatened, I’dencourage anycompetition thatinvolves young people and Ihope every- bodygets behind it. “Thereisstill ahuge nucleus


of young farmers out therecom- ing up through the familytree and following their fathers and mothers into farming butit’snot taken as read thatason or daughter will follow.” The three winning entries


from each competition will be on displayatthis


year’s


PembrokeshireCounty Showin August.


reallyimportant thatany CAP reform includes mandatory sup- port forYoung Farmers in both pillars.Thereare just 7.5% of farmers in the EU under 35. Statistics worryinglyshowthat thereare also as manyfarmers over 80 as thereare under 35. “On averagewithin the EU,


research shows thatayoung farmer is 40% moreproductive than an older farmer.Young farmers aremoreenvironmental- ly-conscious,technologically-


LISTENING INTENTLY: Wales YFC rural affairs committee chairman Jonathan Williams and vice-chairman Iwan Thomas at the CEJA conference.


minded, and, morethan any- thing, better trained than older farmers.Asthe British census shows arising UK population and global population forecast to hit nine billion by 2050; we are running out of farmers,yet we need to produce moreand more food. Thatiswhy it is so critical thatthe reform of the CAP addresses this.Weneed to act now, not in 2020 or 2030, other- wise people maygohungry.” Speakers at the prestigious


conference included Dacian Ciolos,EUCommissioner for Agriculture; Simon Coveney, Irish minister foragricultureand chairman of the council of agri- cultural ministers; and Joris


Baecke, CEJApresident. There wasalso avisit to the Teagasc’s research facility at Grange,Co. Meath and afarmwalk on the farmofMartin and Helen Heaney,Navan, Co.Meath. “The twovisits and the case


studies presented also helped highlight how, while throughout Europe the agricultural systems vary widely, on the whole young farmers face the same challenges of entry into the industry,with land mobility and capital being major restrictions,” said Iwan Thomas. Jonathan and Iwan also met


Irish president, Michael D. Higgins in areception at the Aras an Uachtarain.


Clubs urged to makea pact to helpcommunity


ACHALLENGE has been launched to help young farmers undertakeenvironmental work to benefit their community. The En-pact Challenge,spon-


sored by the Countryside Council forWales,has been launched by Wales YFC’sRural Affairs Committee and the theme forthis year’scompetition


is


Rejuvenating an Area. Jonathan Williams,Wales


YFC rural affairs committee chairman, said: “This year we


For the latest Wales farming news: walesfarmer.co.uk


want to hear from clubs and county federations thatwant to takeupthe challenge of identify- ing projects in their communities thatwill have real and long-term benefits to their local environ- ment and the social and econom- ic well-being of people living in rural areas of Wales.” The competition will be run on


agrant-giving basis; with Wales YFC providing start-up grants and then entrants giveninforma- tion on howtosecuremorefund-


ing if they need it. Jonathan Williams added:


“One of the biggest challenges will be to makethe project self- sufficient, so thatitcontinues for the futureinthe community.If they can proveand demonstrate that–they’ve agood chance of winning.” Formoreinformation, applica-


tion formsand guidance notes, contact Wales YFC on 01982 553 502 or


wales.org.uk. iestyn.thomas@yfc-


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