The Pennine Young Farmers club was founded 12 years ago in 1996 when Winton and Ravenstonedale joined together. The four people who set Pennine YFC off were Colin Smithson, Tony Mason, Jane Beck and James Brownrigg.

John Tunstall has been the chair of Pennine YFC for the last two years, Jonathan Capstick was voted vice-chair at the annual Pennine YFC AGM Meeting. Leanne Wilson is the secretary, Kay Lord minutes secretary, Claire Sproat treasurer and Nicola Steadman programme secretary.

Other office-holders are Tracy Dargue and Maxine Dodd – Field Day meetings; John Tunstall and Nicola Steadman – management meetings; John Tunstall – social/competitions/council meetings

Anyone can join Pennine YFC, even if you’re not a farmer’s son or daughter. They just get together and do interesting stuff like a big happy family. If you are between the ages of 10-26 you can join, if you are over 26 you can join and become an Advisor of Pennine YFC. Every year Pennine has roughly 40-50 members.

Farm walks

Nicola Steadman is in charge of planning the meetings. Pennine YFC does a whole range of different activities, for example: Stock Judging, Farm Walks, Tractor Dealerships, Ice-Skating, Ten-Pin-Bowling.

All these activities are either on a Tuesday night or a Wednesday night depending on whoever is arranging the meeting. The club gathers at Winton or Musgrave Village Hall for meetings and games nights, etc. If a trip is planned the meeting point is in the Kirkby Stephen Market Square where the Seniors or Intermediates pick up the Juniors and take them to the destination.

Every year in May all the clubs from the Southern District get together and compete. The clubs are: Grayrigg, Lowick, Eden Valley, Sedbergh, Kent Estuary, Lyvennet, Furness, Crook, Broughton and Pennine.

There are 90 competitions on the day for each team to compete in, ranging from cross country to boys ID to flower arranging. At the end all points are added together and the team with the most points wins the title ‘Cock of the North’.

Cock of the North

Pennine YFC has had some great achievements in its short life.

They have won several major trophies including the ‘Cock of the North’ (Southern District Field Day Trophy), the same year they hosted it at Belar Farm. They have won Pre-Field Day twice.

Pennine YFC won the Procter Memorial last year; this means Pennine YFC is the best club in the Southern District. Also, John Tunstall won most contributing member to club development.

Pennine YFC helps the surrounding local community in many different ways. Every year members collect rubbish from Winton for the

Winton bonfire; this is a great asset to the community. Also, Pennine YFC helped tidy the allotments next to Jubilee Park.

Future plans for the Pennine YFC are to keep driving to glory and try and win loads of trophies including the Cock of the North/ Procter Memorial again.

Membership fees are: New Member £5; Junior £10; Intermediate £15; Senior £20; Advisor £5

More information

For more information contact: John Tunstall, Jan Davison from County Office on 01768 866550 , or email countyoffice@cumbriayfc.co.uk . You can also visit www.cumbriayfc.co.uk