FAQ

Do you have to be from a farming background to be a Young Farmer?

This is one of the biggest myths around. Young Farmers started for the children of farming families, but nowadays it's for anyone in the country. We have members from all sorts of families.

The only thing is, we keep the strong family traditions of the farming community. If you're young it's hard to be a member without support from home, and lots of parents get almost as much fun out of it as their children. Older members of course are pretty independent, and one thing you can always guarantee from YFC is a lift!

Are all your activities farming based?

Not a bit of it. OK, we do stock judging and tractor driving at our Rallies, and in the summer we do tons of stuff outdoors, but we have talks on everything from alcohol abuse to handbell ringing. We'll do anything the members want to do, cinema, theme parks, or just rounders in the park. Crafts, cake decorating, fashion, the lot. We're really strong on drama and some of our public speakers go on to be barristers and things like that.

Does it lead on to other things?

You bet. You can travel all over the world with Young Farmers, on exchange visits and Discovery trips. We've had visitors from Kenya , Holland , everywhere.

What about training?

Training? You mean preparing for later life? Everything in Young Farmers sets you up for something, if only the great art of having a go and making a fool of yourself. No-one cares, it's all part of the fun. It isn't school, so nothing's formal, but I've learned to stand up in public, run meetings, write reports and work with other people to get things done. It's the greatest training there is.

But most people think Young Farmers just go out and get drunk.

Yeah, yeah, we know. And we certainly do party. But look at this year's District Rally and Country Show. We're hoping to open everyone's eyes to all the rest of the stuff we do. These days most of our members are aged between 10 and 16, and they're certainly not getting drunk! We have very strict rules on underage drinking actually.

Look, the best thing is if people come and see for themselves. Contact us and come to a meeting, there's no pressure to join.

How to Spot a Young Farmer.

Spotting a Young Farmer can be hard. They look very like everyone else. They will certainly be between the ages of 10 and 26 though, and they probably live in the country. But there's no point guessing from the colour of their wellies - they have been known to wear pink.

Be on your guard. Do not make the fundamental mistake of thinking they're all farmers. Some may be, but nowadays they may be disguised as plumbers, doctors, hairdressers or anything else. Hanging around farms looking for them may result in a nasty attack of hay fever.

One clue is that they are unusually active. They're not the ones sitting around at home watching television. They'll be clearing a pond or learning to jive, making a bookcase or practising for drama or public speaking. Late at night older ones could be found in groups in the pub, so look out for orange juice. They never drink and drive.

How to Meet a Young Farmer in its Natural Habitat.

Young Farmers have a habit of clubbing together in distinct areas. If you approach them at one of these meetings, the whole group may turn and look at you. Do not be alarmed. They are not generally aggressive. One may detach itself from the group and come towards you, uttering a distinctive cry - it could be "Hello", or "Hi", or even "How do". In some remote parts there have been reports of a member saying "Now then", accompanied by thumbs in the belt and rocking on the heels, but this is rare nowadays.

The youthful observer may wish to take a parent with them on these expeditions. They are rarely regarded with suspicion, and may be useful in taking notes.

Tracking a Young Farmer.

This is where the real hard work begins. They are here, there and everywhere, so keeping up takes energy and enthusiasm. The best place to start is by studying what they call their programme, although this has been known to mislead all but the keenest observers. Fortunately in this technological age, they can be tracked via the text message and the computer, since some of them have developed websites. These have the latest known movements, sometimes accompanied by photographs.

Befriending a Young Farmer.

This can take a little time. As with any wild creature, the best method is to associate with them frequently, joining in whenever asked. This can lead to strange experiences, because Young Farmers don't care what people think of them. Dressing up as a marmoset is considered normal under some circumstances, as is sport, cooking, carpentry, flower arranging and for boys, pretending to be the Cheeky Girls.

Harmful Effects.

Young Farmers can cause considerable loss of free time. At first this can look serious, but remember - lots of their activities have valuable side effects, looking wonderful on CV's for everything from plumbing to medical courses.

There is also the danger, especially if one expresses interest in something called the Discovery Programme, of finding oneself in foreign parts. This can be serious, since most people return in a state of high excitement, insisting on telling everyone what a great time they've had and forcing others to look at their photographs. There is no known antidote.

Next Steps.

For those with the courage to explore further, we can do no better than give you details of known sightings of various groups. Please remember that all contact is at your own risk - we bear no responsibility for any fun, friendship or training that may be experienced.

In summer there are quite a few outside meetings, so ring first, or email us here...