Young farmers in Cheshire have raised tens of thousands of pounds for local and national charities over the past year.
Overall, they raised a huge grand total of more than £86,750 across the 11 clubs in the county.
The organisation, which is itself a charity, raised money by organising tractor runs, pantomimes, and raffles as well as pie and quiz nights.
While traditionally rooted in agriculture, Cheshire Young Farmers Club (YFC) is a vibrant network, welcoming young people from both rural areas and larger towns in the county.
- Knutsford YFC led the pack with a more than £12,000 raised through their Christmas Charity Tractor Run, benefiting East Cheshire Hospice.
- Nantwich YFC added more than £11,600 to the total during a year which included a pantomime version of Alice in Wonderland, and they supported causes such as Parkinson’s UK, the Christie and the MPS Society.
- Altrincham YFC brought in £2,000 from a quiz, garden party and dinner dance raffle for Cancer Research UK and Papyrus.
- Middlewich YFC raised £4,500 which was split between the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital and the British Heart Foundation.
- Macclesfield YFC contributed more than £3,300 to East Cheshire Hospice and The Christie.
- Stretton YFC boosted fundraising with more than £6,200 raised from a charity tractor run for Make A Wish where they also collected for local foodbanks.
- Beeston YFC marked their 80th anniversary with a charity football match and held an auction at their dinner dance raising almost £1,000, for Alder Hey and FCN.
- Congleton YFC raised nearly £4,000 with a pie and pea night for East Cheshire Hospice and carol singing in memory of former Cheshire YFC member Phil Bloor.
- Malpas YFC topped up the total with £3,500 for Yellow Wellies Farm Safety Foundation, The Agricultural Chaplaincy and The Hospice of the Good Shepherd.
- Sandbach YFC added more than £5,300 to the total with a tug-of-war night and carol singing, donating to The Christie and East Cheshire Hospice.
In addition to the individual clubs, the Cheshire Dairy Queen Team of Anna Welland, Emma Hodgson and Chloe Bradley-Boffey – who act as ambassadors of Cheshire YFC for the year – raised more than £25,600 by running the London Marathon, hosting an afternoon tea and organising a Christmas raffle.
Funds were directed to their chosen charities for the year: Teenage Cancer Trust – who have been a massive support to Cheshire YFC member James Colcough who is fighting Leukaemia – and the Children’s Adventure Farm Trust.
On top of that, the chairlady and chairman for 2024/25, Mike Leech and Siobhan Rutter, raised more than £7,600 with a charity concert where all clubs performed in support of North West Air Ambulance and the Cheshire Agricultural Chaplaincy.
A spokesperson For Cheshire YFC said that while the organisation remains rooted in the traditions of agriculture, today it offers a platform for young people from all walks of life to develop leadership skills, build lifelong friendships and give back to the community.
Find out more at www.cheshireyfc.co.uk or search for a local club on social media.
