October has been a very busy month for the young farmers in Radnorshire.

At the beginning of the month members from across the county flocked to Glan Elan Farm, Rhayader for the annual Field Day Competition, sponsored by Milwyn Jenkins and Jenkins and AS Sheep Dipping Ltd and kindly hosted by Rob, Audrey, Gethin, Rhys and Ieuan Lewis on behalf of Rhayader YFC.

The day was packed with a variety of competitions and clubs competed against each other in everything from cookery, flower arranging, disco dancing, ATV challenges, lamb trimming and photography.

Record entries in the fencing competition with 24 teams entering saw Howey YFC, for the second year in a row, winning the junior fencing title and Rhayader YFC retaining the senior fencing cup.

Robbie Savage and Sam Bowen, Radnor Valley YFC won the ATV Challenge Trophy, Cantal YFC the S4C Cup for the disco dancing, drama programme cover and the karaoke.

The Inner Wheel trophy was won by Aberedw YFC for Junior Fferm Factor, auctioneering and blindfold sheepdog trials.

The Lucerne Wilson cup for the cookery, floral, christmas card and skills exhibit was won by Teme Valley YFC and the Rotary Cup for the Christmas tree, junior and senior give it a go and photography was won by Llanbadarn Fynydd YFC, the smallest club in the county which has eight members - well done Llanbadarn!

Knighton YFC won the Federation display where the theme of the competition was the RNLI.

Thomas Swancott, Teme Valley YFC also retained the Max Pugh Trophy for the lamb trimming competition.

Efficiency with Safety Competition was also held at Glan Elan with Penybont YFC taking the title and the points going forward to Field Day.

Penybont YFC being presented with The Efficiency with Farm Safety Shield by William Ransford, Director of Milwyn Jenkins & Jenkins
Penybont YFC being presented with The Efficiency with Farm Safety Shield by William Ransford, Director of Milwyn Jenkins & Jenkins (Radnor YFC)

After a long day of competition, the overall winners were announced as Howey YFC with Teme Valley YFC coming runners-up, and closely followed in third place by host club Rhayader YFC.

Winning members will now go forward to represent the county at All Wales Field Day in which will be hosted by Radnor YFC and will return to Rhayader in April 2024.

Full results are available on the Radnor YFC website: www.radnoryfc.org.uk.

The county Harvest Festival was hosted by Penybont YFC in Llandegley Church where members of each club attended the service and donated hampers of food to Knighton Food Bank.

Next up was Radnor YFC’s County Stock Judging Day where over 100 members competed. The day was held at Rhayader Livestock Market by kind permission of Rhayader Livestock Sales and Rhayader Smithfield Trust and was generously sponsored by Pilgrim’s Lamb.

Anwen Hardwick of Rhayader YFC winning Junior Stockman and Will Nixon of Aberedw YFC winning Senior Stockman
Anwen Hardwick of Rhayader YFC winning Junior Stockman and Will Nixon of Aberedw YFC winning Senior Stockman (Ruth Rees Photography)

The annual event attracted members from across the county to compete for the title of Junior and Senior Stockman of the year.

Members had to judge and give reasons on butchers lambs, butchers cattle, butchers pigs and breeding ewes and then complete an animal health questionnaire.

Radnor YFC also held a ‘just placings’ competition for members 14 years and under which saw a record number of entries.

After a long day of competition, Anwen Hardwick, Rhayader YFC was crowned Junior Stockman of the Year 2023.

The top four juniors, Anwen Hardwick, Lewis Beavan, Lowri Bayliss and Casey Rees will now go on to represent Radnor at All Wales Field Day.

The winner of the Senior Stockman of the year 2023 was Will Nixon, Aberedw YFC.

The Senior team who will represent Radnor at All Wales Field Day are Will Nixon, Elgan Davies, Elizabeth Swancott and Sam Beavan.

Tudor Lewis of Penybont YFC and Tilly Goodwin of Rhayader YFC were awarded joint first in the 14 years and under ‘just placings’ competition.