Staffordshire Young Farmers celebrated the achievements of its clubs and members at its County AGM on 29 October, with Cheadle YFC winning the Club Efficiency Shield and Overall Competitions Cup.
More than 200 guests attended the event, while the Federation reported 477 members aged 10 to 28. Members also raised over £6,400 for Birmingham Children’s Hospital Charity.
The awards recognise young people contributing to rural communities through farming, leadership, volunteering, competitions and charitable fundraising.
Staffordshire Federation of Young Farmers Clubs (YFC) held its County AGM on Thursday 29th October in the Ingestre Suite at the County Showground, Stafford. The evening was supported by Pickering & Butters Solicitors, a Staffordshire firm established more than a century ago, with offices in Stafford and Rugeley. Katie White, Partner and Head of Business at Pickering & Butters LLP, said:
“We are incredibly proud to sponsor this year’s Staffordshire Young Farmers AGM and awards presentation. The energy, dedication and community spirit shown by these young people is truly inspiring. To invest in the next generation of farmers and celebrate their hard work and achievements is something we are really proud of. Well done to all involved for a brilliant evening of celebrations.”
The County AGM was attended by over 200 invited guests and members of the Federation and is the most prestigious meeting of the Staffordshire YFC year.
Andrew Hill gave his Chair’s Report on the last year of all things Staffordshire YFC, he stated that he was proud of the team he had chosen to be County Officers and grateful for all their hard work throughout the year. His biggest admission was how much he enjoyed the Christmas Shopping Night. Perhaps he’s not the Scrooge we all thought he was!
One of Andrew’s many highlights of the year was his trip to the Library of Birmingham for afternoon tea and being invited to accept the 100 Heroes Award on behalf of Staffordshire Young Farmers after raising over £6400.00 for Birmingham Children’s Hospital Charity at our Annual Christmas Tractor Run.
It was reported by Cathie Hurdman, County Organiser, during the meeting that Staffordshire YFC had 477 members aged 10 – 28 years at 31st August 2026.
Richard Robinson was re-elected as County President for a second year with Mark Madders being re-elected as the Senior Deputy President for the Federation.
The presentations of awards were made by Mr Roly Tavernor, Staffordshire & Birmingham Agricultural Society Chairman, to the following Clubs and Individuals:
Most Outstanding County Officer: Greg Large, Competitions Chair
David Palij Award: Awarded to the Club that has done the most for charity/community work during the last 12 months.
Winner: Ashley YFC
Manifold Marketing Award: Awarded to the Club who best promotes their Club and engagement in Club, County & Community Events.
Winner: Ashley YFC; Runners-up: Waterhouses YFC
The Richard Mottershead Club Programme Award: Awarded to the Club gaining the highest number of points within the Club Efficiency Competition for the Club Programme section.
Winner: Cheadle YFC; Runners up: Leek YFC
Scrapbook Award: Awarded to the Club who produces the most interesting and unique scrapbook based on the activities of their own Club over the past membership year.
Winner: Ashley YFC
Masterpiece Trophy – presented to the individual ‘Best Stockjudger of the Year’ – Winner – Kate Oakes of Chase YFC
Junior Stockjudging Cup:
Winner: Waterhouses YFC
Runners Up: Eccleshall YFC
Intermediate Stockjudging Cup:
Joint Winners: Leek YFC, Uttoxeter JNFU & Waterhouses YFC
Joint Runners up – Cheadle YFC & Eccleshall YFC
Senior Stockjudging Cup:
Winners: Waterhouses YFC
Joint Runners Up: Chase YFC & Uttoxeter JNFU
Overall Stockjudging Cup:
Winner: Waterhouses YFC
Runner Up: Uttoxeter JNFU
Overall Cup for the County Show:
Winner: Cheadle YFC
Runner up: Stone YFC
Most Improved Club - Competitions Cup: Awarded to the Club that has achieved the highest improvement in points for competitions from the 2024/25 year.
Winner: Cheadle YFC
Runner Up: Leek YFC
Small Clubs Trophy: Awarded to one of the four smallest Clubs in the County with regard to membership, that has achieved the most points throughout the year for competitions.
Winner: Cheadle YFC
Runner Up: Ashley YFC
Mr Ken Unwin MBE Memorial Cup: Awarded to the Club who most improves in Public Speaking, Stock Judging, Carcase Judging and Tug of War.
Winner: Leek YFC
Runner Up: Stone YFC
David Stubbs Award: Awarded to the Club who most improves in Dairy Stockjudging, Stockman/Young Stockjudge of the Year and Carcase Judging.
Joint Winners: Leek YFC & Stone YFC
Runner Up; Cheadle YFC
Overall Competitions Cup: Presented to the club with the most points for the Competitions that have been held for the last 12 months:
Winners: Cheadle YFC
Runner Up: Ashley YFC
W.H.D. Hobson Cup: Awarded to the Club with the highest increase in membership.
Winner: Stone YFC;
Newsletter Shield: For the best contribution to the Young Farmers’ Book of the Year
Winners: Ashley YFC; Runner Up: Cheadle YFC
Staffordshire YFC/FCN Kindness & Compassion Award:
This was awarded to Megan Cappaert of Ashley YFC, for her remarkable coordination and organisation of the Three Peaks Challenge and Miles for Mind Challenge.
Mr & Mrs W.A. Taylor Senior Merit Award:
Awarded to the most outstanding individual at Club or County level.
This was presented to Vernon Whilock of Cheadle YFC, for his dedication, always being dependable and a hard-working member who willingly gives of his time to support YFC.
Alex Cartmail of Eccleshall YFC was the Runner Up Member for this award.
Junior Merit Award: This is presented to the most outstanding junior individual at Club or County level. This was presented to Henry of Eccleshall YFC, as a new member he soon became committed and embraced all things YFC.
Paddy of Ashley YFC was the Runner Up Member for this award.
NFYFC Certificates of Achievement were also presented to all members who had taken part in the National Federation of Young Farmers finals of various competitions throughout the year.
As part of their ongoing support to Staffordshire YFC, The Staffordshire and Birmingham Agricultural Society kindly sponsored two places for members to attend The Oxford Farming Conference, which is a highlight of the agriculture and food industry calendar and held in January 2027. After submitting a 500-word statement giving reasons as to why they should attend, Summer Palmer and Andrew Hill were both chosen to represent Staffordshire YFC at this prestigious event.
The final awards of the evening are the most prestigious to receive and are judged throughout the year as a “Club Efficiency” Competition, which encapsulates all aspects of a YFC Club. The aim of the competition is to encourage members and Club Officers to work together as an effective team for the benefit of all members. Judges look for all aspects of how the clubs are run and hope to see good club administration and record keeping, strong leadership and governance and active promotion of the clubs through publicity and community engagement. They also want to see teamwork, ideas and enthusiasm from all club members. From this competition, the following awards were presented:
Most Outstanding Chair: Winner: George Large – Cheadle YFC
Runner-up: Holly Mardling – Stone YFC
Most Outstanding Secretary: Winner: Harry Large – Cheadle YFC
Runners-up: Molly Thompson – Stone YFC
Most Outstanding Treasurer: Winner: Archie Woodward - Leek YFC
Runner-up: William Matthews - Ashley YFC
Most Outstanding Club Leader: Winner: Alfie Waring – Cheadle YFC
Runners-up: Isabel Leese – Eccleshall YFC
Club Efficiency Shield: Winners: Cheadle YFC
Runner-up: Eccleshall YFC
Staffordshire YFC continues to thrive and offers young people living and working in the rural areas of the county who are aged 10 and 28 years a wide range of opportunities to enjoy competitions, social events, sports, travel, meeting new friends and learning new skills.
Anyone who is interested in joining their local YFC club, please contact the County Office on 01785 248645 or email countyoffice@staffsyoungfarmers.org.uk for more information The website www.staffsyoungfarmers.org.uk has updated information about Staffordshire YFC and the local clubs to find out more.
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