Yorkshire young farmers call for vote of no confidence in NFYFC

The NFYFC said it believes it is time to "refresh its offer" to members
The NFYFC said it believes it is time to "refresh its offer" to members

Yorkshire young farmers have voted unanimously to call for a vote of no confidence in the National Federation of Young Farmers’ Club.

The proposal came at an executive committee meeting in Harrogate of the Yorkshire Federation of Young Farmers’ Clubs (YFYFC).

The meeting had been called to get membership’s feedback on the cancellation of next year’s annual convention in Blackpool by the National Federation of Young Farmers’ Clubs (NFYFC).

In summer, the national body’s board of management voted to no longer hold the Annual Convention for its young farmer members.

After 50 years of hosting the event, the NFYFC said it believes it is time to "refresh its offer" to members and to bring its programme of activities more in line with its charitable aims to meet the needs of rural young people.

It follows the body being forced to take disciplinary processes after identifying young farmers involved in antisocial behaviour during its Annual Convention in Blackpool back in May.

'Resentment'

Yorkshire young farmers used the YFYFC meeting to voice their anger: “Finding out about the cancellation through social media was absolutely disgusting,” said one farmer.

“National’s communication – or rather lack of it – has resulted in a massive feeling of resentment.”

Yorkshire chairperson Kirsty Searby praised members for not making a knee-jerk reaction after news broke of the convention’s cancellation when troublemakers at this year’s event hit the national headlines.

“Our members agreed that the convention format needs looking at – maybe going down the lines of a festival – but the anger came from the way the decision to cancel was made; with members left to learn about it second-hand via social media,” Ms Searby said.

“There were also strong feelings about the way the whole Blackpool affair was handled; with negative stories coming out from national rather than telling the public about all the good that young farmers do.”

Two proposals

YFYFC voted to back two further proposals. The first was to undertake a feasibility study looking at the cost and other implications if a decision is made to break away – like Cheshire – from the national federation.

They also criticised a current membership survey, claiming the questions had been asked in such a way that only positive answers can be given.

A vote was taken to propose a new survey, which should ask open questions; more likely to bring frank and constructive ideas forward with the scope for making negative points as well.

Yorkshire YFC will put its three motions forward at the NFYFC council meeting, to be held in Warwickshire on Sunday, October 21st.