Each year, all Young Farmers County Federations organise a Field Day when members have an opportunity to test their skills in stockjudging, fence erecting, the use of farm machinery and their knowledge of first aid (writes Meyrick Brown).

Those successful at county level qualify to compete at the all Wales YFC Field Day which was this year hosted by Carmarthen Federation and held at the United Counties Agricultural Showground.

The event was generously sponsored by the local NFU Mutual agencies within the county and many local farmers and businessmen supported the event by loaning their livestock and machinery for the various competitions.

Wales YFC also owes the success of the day to the judges and stewards who gave their time to assist with the event.

Throughout the day, young people from across Wales participated in a range of competitions which retain close links with the agricultural industry and rural skills including a new competition for sheepdog handlers - this proved very successful with five members competing to a noteably high standard.

Wales YFC’s competitions committee chairman, Dewi Parry, said: “Our Wales Field Day showcases the very best of the organisation’s core agricultural competitions, teaching members how to select the animals that best suit the market, as well as how to maintain machinery to their best with an importance on health and safety. Once again, the standard was very high and warmest congratulations to the Pembrokeshire team who were overall winners for the second year with Carmarthen and Brecknock as joint runners-up.”

Results:

Senior fencing - Pembrokeshire (Iwan Twose, Christopher Davies and Daniel Phillips); res - Brecknock.

Junior fencing - Ceredigion (John Jenkins, Dyfan Jones and Llyr Evans); res - Brecknock.

Workshop skills - Carmarthenshire (Catrin Evans, Hefin Jones, Arwel Jones and Aled Jones); res - Pembrokeshire. Best individual in the first aid task - Sian Healey, Brecknock.

Junior Fferm Factor - Brecknock (Rhodri Jones and Ryan Jones); res - Pembrokeshire.

Senior Stockman of the Year - Carmarthenshire (Caryl Howells, Anwen Jones, Elin Childs and Arwel Thomas); res - Ceredigion. Best individual - Caryl Howells.

Junior Stockman of the Year - Pembrokeshire (Annie Peters, Rhys James, Sion Wilson and Steffan Wilson); res - Clwyd. Best individual - Cain Owen, Ynys Môn.

Sheepdog Trials - Logan Williams, Carmarthenshire; res - Dewi Jenkins, Ceredigion.

YFC Live - Ceredigion (Hafwen Davies, Sioned Davies, Lois Jones and Nia Morgans); res - Carmarthenshire.

Overall winning federation - Pembrokeshire- joint runners up - Brecknock and Carmarthenshire.