Young Farmers host Midlands celebration with Matt Baker to mark 80 years of national Federation
A first dance with television presenter Matt Baker prompted a bidding war in a special auction at the National Federation of Young Farmers’ Clubs’ (NFYFC) gala dinner in Birmingham at the weekend to celebrate 80 years of one of the largest rural youth organisations in the UK.
The auction and a raffle formed part of the historic celebrations at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole Hotel on Saturday 1 December, and raised a massive £5,000 for the organisation.
Jan Dickinson who supports St Albans Young Farmers’ Club won the first dance with the Federation’s President Matt Baker after bidding £310, and the pair danced to the song (I’ve had) The Time of my Life from the film Dirty Dancing. Jan said:
“I’m still grinning about the experience; I can’t believe I did it. Matt is lovely and a fantastic President and role model for young farmers. He’s also a great dancer and has some very good moves – I used to love watching him on Strictly Come Dancing. I loved his backflip but my children are already fed up of hearing about it!”
Other auction lots included a bottle of whisky signed by Prime Minister David Cameron, a weekend for four at the Hilton Hotel Warwick, including dinner and a day at Warwick Races; a tour of the JCB factory; VIP tickets to SIMA 2013 in Paris and a tour of the Massey Ferguson Beauvais factory; and a VIP visit to the Jackson factory in Minnesota, USA, home of the Challenger tracked tractor.
Around 300 past and present members – including Mark Spencer MP, partners and supporters gathered for the party, and popular cover band The Present entertained the crowd.
The occasion was very much a showcase of young farming talent, with Joy Cornock from Pembrokeshire Federation of Young Farmers’ Clubs (YFCs) playing the harp as guests arrived and florist Lizzie Coar from Lancashire Federation of YFCs supplying the floral decorations.
The Federation was officially first formed in 1932, with a head office in London before moving to Stoneleigh in Warwickshire in 1968. Among its former presidents of the last 80 years, have been Princess Anne, the Duke of Edinburgh and the Prince of Wales.
Matt Baker, who has been the organisation’s President since 2011, attended with his wife Nicola, and raised a toast to the Federation’s future. He said:
“I am always amazed and inspired by the achievements of everyone involved at NFYFC and I feel so honoured to be its President – particularly during this special year.
“It’s impressive to reflect on the last 80 years but in some ways the present crop is even more exciting. NFYFC is doing a fantastic job of preparing young farmers to lead the industry into the next 80 years.”
Milly Wastie, NFYFC’s 81st National Chairman, said:
“Young Farmers is not just about the competitions, the opportunities to travel and the social events – it’s also about the platform it gives young people to speak out about the issues that affect young farmers and those living in rural communities.
“I will forever be indebted to Young Farmers for the confidence it has given me and the opportunities it has created in my work and personal life.”
The organisation, which has 644 clubs in England and Wales has more than 24,000 members aged between 10 and 26.