APRIL has meant preparation for our biggest fundraising event of the year, writes Tory Lugsden.
The Annual Suffolk YFC Country Fair and all hands have been to the pump for the majority of the month in the office and, for the members, time has been spent busily working out promotion activities, what is going where and how to get
What to where in the shortest amount of time. All while making the most of the weather that seems to have improved slightly. Let’s hope it gradually gets better and spring is finally here.
The beginning of the month started with our annual Farming and Countryside competition which is kindly hosted for us by Ensors and Lacy, Scott & Knight and is the competition that really gives the farmers amongst our membership their time to shine. And shine they did.
A beautiful early spring day was put on for the competition at Moat Farm, Barking, and 17 teams of young farmers came out to test their skills.
The competition is always very closely run amongst our more farming based clubs and the competitive element is definitely in play. The Hadleigh YFC teams took the first and second places this year, much to their delight followed very closely by the Debenham YFC team.
Gipping Valley Juniors took the win followed by rivals Lark Valley and Brett Valley, for whom this was their first foray into valuations – I think they enjoyed it! Many thanks to Ensors and Lacy, Scott and Knight for their brilliant support and for hosting a fabulous competition.
Stowmarket YFC held their “Charity Shop” party and had a great evening at the Limes Hotel, Needham Market.
The variety of outfits were amazing and it must have been a worry for anybody that didn’t dress up just in case they were asked where on earth they had got their outfit from!?
The penultimate weekend of April brought around our flagship event of the year the country fair which we planned to be bigger and better than last year, little did we know what we would get weather wise.
In the hope for sun it was decided by the county office that the country fair shirts (kindly sponsored by Thurlow Nunn Standen) would be bright yellow with the county chairman saying “whenever anyone wears yellow they are pestered by pollen beetle, which goes hand in hand with sun”. It worked with a day of sun shine and temperatures topping 17 degrees.
The BBQ and bar were flat out all day expertly run by members of Stowmarket, Halesworth and Bury St Edmunds YFC. As usual the car park was in safe hands under Debenham YFC and topped off by the Hadleigh YFC competitions the members really came into their own.
Not forgetting the junior clubs of course which got stuck in helping out in all areas to ensure the day went without a hitch.
The day was well attended with excess of 1000 people passing through the gates to explore all the young farmers had put on display.
Many thanks have to go to Ensors, Atlas Fram, Robinson & Hall, East of England Co-op, Agroco Trailers, Skinners, Thurlow Nunn Standen, Gibbons Plant Hire & Windmill Arb Services as without their on-going support Suffolk YFC would not be able to put on such an event.
Finally, a massive thank-you to Fiona Siddall and her team at Easton Farm Park for their continued support which ensures the success of our country fair each year.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here