Plans announced for YDP weekend

More details on this year’s first ever major YDP final weekend have just been announced and YDP co-ordinator Gayle Bersey talks through her ideas behind the event

‘It’s all about young people’

The brief that was given to me when I took over the Coordinator of the YDP was to move the programme forward. I looked at several different youth groups, both farming and on a wider scale, and one of the main activities that people enjoyed most was a weekend of fun and education bringing like minded people together. After looking at the 2009 YDP final held at the National Calf Show it became clear to me that the whole thing felt like a bit of an anti climax. I found myself asking the question: “why couldn’t the final be put together with a weekend event for all and further the fun factor of the YDP?”

In 2009 the top 24 participants were invited to Beef Expo at Carlisle where they were given already clipped and dressed calves to show in the ring. While there was plenty for parents to look at at the show, it did seem a bit of a shame for the participants to wait all day for their 20 mins in the ring. In theory they should have learnt lots of skills at the workshops throughout the year to be able to at dress the animals themselves and the older ones should be able to turn them out completely so this is what they will have to do in 2010!

So this brings us onto the new initiative:  The Weekend Event. This will take place at Rugby Market at Stoneleigh Park and will be open to anyone who has attended a workshop. Stoneleigh Park was decided upon as there is everything we need in one area, hotels, function rooms, penning facilities and an activities ground. It also is close to airports etc for ease of travelling. The itinerary will be as follows:

Friday 1^st Oct: Quiz night in Stoneleigh Lodge

Saturday 2^nd Oct morning: Seminars and workshops (UK sires, Photography, Mole Valley Feed Specialists, EBLEX) everything you may need to be an all round good stockman.

Saturday afternoon: Stockjudging competition for everyone and Finalists to prepare their cattle

3.30pm: FINAL (Judge this year will be Ian Campbell of noted Aberdeen-Angus fame and more currently Charolais and Limousins as stockman for Danny Swarij)

7pm: Presentation Dinner

Sunday 3^rd Oct morning: Activities including Archery etc

After looking at the Canadian Junior Showdown, I felt that it would be good to introduce some competitions for all participants so we have added photography, poetry and Art so hopefully there will be something to appeal to everyone. This is the first time we have tried this event so the ideas have been simple to start, but we hope that we can use some other ideas that I learnt from Canada in the future events.

So this is the idea: to make this a really fab event that other breeds will be envious of and lots of youngsters would want to get involved in, all good PR for the breed. The first event of any kind is always a daunting venture and I’m sure it will take time for people to get used to change, but I do hope that participants and breeders will support this move. This initiative is already being subsidised by the Aberdeen-Angus Cattle Society as sponsorship for a first time event was hard to find, it is hoped that we can carry out some fundraising activities to help fund next year’s event. It will however need a lot of support from breeders too especially as I need to find 24 calves and lots of equipment. We are also pleased that Farmer Guardian has agreed to send a photographer and reporter so we should get maximum publicity.

I have very fond memories of attending both National and Regional Young Farmers weekends and I hope the youngsters will take home some great memories form this event. The workshops are great fun but it hoped that this will bring fun and friendship on a BIGGER scale.

If you would like some more info or feel you might be able to help out in anyway please contact Gayle on gayle@bersey.fslife.co.uk