Clubbing together for bright future

Driving licence tests were still a year from being introduced and a coalition government under the leadership of Prime Minister Ramsay MacDonald was in power when Catterick Young Farmers’ Calf Club made its first appearance.

Now the club, that has earned a considerable reputation for its competitive drive and team spirit, is preparing to become an octogenarian when it celebrates its 80th birthday at The George Hotel in Piercebridge.

Much has changed since those days when you were more likely to hear guest speakers giving their best shot at making a talk about farmyard manure the highlight of a young person’s week.

Earlier this week the club’s visit to Laser Quest typified just how far life has changed for those involved with the young people’s countryside youth organisation.

For those who like to wallow in past glories and bemoan that today’s clubs are nothing like those of their forefathers it is worth recording that the very first meeting held in Catterick Village Schoolrooms saw an attendance of just 15 and today’s membership runs at a healthy 40-plus.

Club secretary Emma Walton is a farmer’s daughter and her mother is a past chairman. Emma believes that Catterick YFC is looking good and has a great platform for the future:

“We’re a very strong club that attracts a wide range of members, from those who have grown up on farms 
and those who haven’t. 
We didn’t reach our normal high standards in the Yorkshire Federation County Rally competition this year but we were third last year and have been champions before.

“We always work hard to raise money for charity and this year we have been working on behalf of Yorkshire Cancer Research. Being involved in young farmers’ clubs certainly involves you in roles you would never have thought of taking on previously and it helps with your working life too.

“When I first started as a junior member I would never have thought that I would have become club secretary. It just seems to be something that you fall into naturally when you’re a certain age or you’ve had a certain amount of experience. It’s funny because now I see similar people to me who are a little bit younger coming on the way I was a few years ago. That’s one of the things 
that’s really good about our club and it shows that it will be secure for a number of years.

“I studied for my degree at Harper Adams University because with it being an agricultural college I saw it as a larger version of a young farmers’ club and that’s exactly what it was to me. I’m now working for the NFU Mutual Insurance company in Ripon and my young farmers’ experience has proved very valuable.”

Amy Poulter is a primary school teacher and the club’s Social Secretary. She is one of the club’s members who doesn’t have a direct farming background.

“I came along to young farmers when I was quite young. A lot of my friends were from farms, and my sister and I were involved with horses. We came along for the horse judging at first.

“We try to let everyone know that you don’t have to be from a farming background to join the club. When I talk to my class at school about what goes on with our rally team, the social events and the other competitions they all show an interest in coming along. We’re always considering our future club membership and we do well at bringing new people in and making them feel a part of it all.”

Current chairman Craig Marwood works on his family’s 220-acre beef and sheep farm near Leyburn. Somewhat ironically, given his agricultural background, he was introduced to the club by Amy.

“I was involved with young farmers’ club activities when I attended Askham Bryan College in York but I never really knew what was around here. A couple of years after I came back from college Amy brought me along to Catterick and I’ve been here ever since.

“We try to be more focussed on non-farming related evenings and visits at the back end of the year and then start gearing up with agricultural-based events as we get closer to the annual rallies. We are very keen on areas such as stockjudging.”

One of those who has shown a real penchant for stockjudging in recent times is the club’s charity co-ordinator Kate Lovegreen who is presently studying for her A-levels at Barnard Castle School.

“Although I am a farmer’s daughter and we have everything from cattle and sheep to horses, pigs, geese and chickens I have never had too much involvement with livestock, but I’ve taken part in stockjudging in recent times and won once or twice.”

Catterick YFC meetings are held weekly at Booth Hall in Catterick Village. New members are always encouraged to attend.

Catterick YFC 80th anniversary dinner and dance will take place at The George Hotel, Piercebridge on Friday, November 29.

Anyone interested in either today’s club or the special night should contact Emma Walton on 07791 230917.

‘Great for young ones of today’

Club President Dave Wood recalls the halcyon days when membership really did touch the 100 mark.

“Quite a bit has changed over the years. Sure enough, a big tractor in those days was 60hp but it was also the time of the Stones and Beatles.

“At that time you came home from school and got on with your homework and then it was time for cubs or a youth club and then you moved on to young farmers. Youth clubs seem to be a bit old hat, but young farmers’ clubs still have their place.

“What our club is doing here at Catterick is great for the young ones of today.”