So much for flaming June as it was once upon a time known. Let’s hope July provides us with some much needed sunshine, writes Tory Lugsden.

East Anglian Daily Times: Brett Valley YFC FloatBrett Valley YFC Float (Image: Archant)

June has been what can only be classed as hectic. The members of Suffolk Young Farmers have been seriously busy and up to their usual tricks of being amazing!

We started June with our annual rally day held at Debach Airfield by kind permission of the Taylor family. Our hopes for sunshine were briefly raised with a scorcher the day before but the day of the rally can only be classed as bracing. The members were not put off by the slightly inclement weather and as always the competition amongst the clubs was fantastic and surprised us all with their ingenuity. Competitions included morris dancing YFC style – incredible displays from the junior clubs with one team even providing their own music on flutes, boxes and shakers and another ending their display with a drum and bass ending. Pantomime bikes featured zebras and pigs, the Tug of War was serious business, lawnmower racing was its usual terrifying event with one trusty steed making more noise than movement much to Debenham’s disappointment. We were delighted to crown Abbi Taylor from Stowmarket YFC the very first Miss Suffolk YFC for the past few years. Her cake making, wheel changing, trailer reversing and sheep knowledge were supreme although the girls were delighted with the cancellation of the bikini round. The YFC floats were amazing as always featuring a Hoe Down theme. The overall day was won by our newest junior club Brett Valley YFC and the senior competitions were won by Hadleigh YFC for the second year running. A great day was had by all and our thanks go to all of our judges, stewards and to the British Wool Board for their kind sponsorship.

With the clear up from the rally done the second biggest clear up of the year was under way with the County Office move from our chilly portable cabin on the Otley College campus into our stunning new offices at Stanaway Farm just 200 metres up the road. It was an emotional day leaving our trusty old offices but the luxury of our fantastic new accommodation has made it so much easier! At least anyone that has ever taken part in the YFC quiz will be pleased to know that the phone number hasn’t changed! The moving rubbish/clearing up theme continued with our amazing YFC Muck Truck event taking place over the weekend of June 12. Boys and girls from clubs across the county managed to move a spectacular 6,000 tonnes of muck over four days raising £6,000 for the county federation.

This is another great example of the members of Suffolk YFC working together to create a fantastic organisation. Our thanks must go to the Kerr, Taylor and Larter families for supporting us once again and to our incredible machinery dealerships without whom this fundraising would not be able to happen. Our thanks go to Tim Hubert of Agri-Hire, Chris Tew of Thurlow Nunn Standen, Andrew May of Hartest, Paul Moss of Manns of Saxham, Mark Debenham of P Tuckwell, Tim Bradford of T Workshop and to the Dickson family for letting us wash down at their farm. In July the finale to our year is our fabulous County Ball taking place at the Cameo Hotel, Copdock.PA1, PA2 and Telehandler training courses take place, and there is also judging of the AtlasFram and Suffolk YFC Wheat competition, our Junior Forum with Beginners Tractor Handling.