YOUNG farmers from across the south west went head to head at a competition at Kingston Maurward.

Dorset Young Farmers Club (YFC) hosts the south west area competitions day every three years and youngsters from across the region took part in activities from stock judging to cake decorating.

Clubs from Dorset, Somerset, Cornwall, Gloucestershire, Wiltshire and Devon attended the event.

All six counties in the South West put forward their best teams and individuals to compete in the 12 competitions and each county had something to cheer about at the end of it.

The day is organised so that the top two teams or individuals can be selected to go forward to represent the South West at the National Young Farmers finals at Stafford in July, Tenbury Show in August or the Farm Skills Weekend which will take place in September.

The morning’s competitions varied and showed many skills from Efficiency in Safety and fence erecting in teams to individual work like stock judging and cake decorating. The sport for the morning was volleyball.

Later in the afternoon the ladies, juniors and men’s tug of war was staged.

Matt Cowlard, trainer of Sturminster Newton YFC, said: “The one thing that our lads wanted to achieve this year was to get to the national finals to represent Dorset and this is something they have worked hard and achieved. Well done lads.”

They go on to the Tenbury Show with Devon YFC men’s team.

The ladies tug of war was won by Devon also who go through with Somerset to represent the South West Area. Junior tug of war teams that will also go forward are Wiltshire and Devon YFC.

Tracy Hounsome, county organiser for the Dorset Federation of Young Farmers Clubs, said: “The stockjudging was held both at Kingston Maurward College and at Hoskins Farm in Dorchester by kind permission of Mr John Hoskins.

“Both farming and non-farming young people alike can do equally well at this competition. All the counties provide training from specialists in Pigs, Sheep, Dairy and Beef Cattle.

“As long as the young people listen to how to describe the various attributes of each of the animals presented to them then it is down to their confidence and skills in public speaking when presenting their reasons that will see them win through.”

To find out more about Young Farmers visit nfyfc.org.uk

Young Farmers Clubs are open to everyone between the ages of 10 to 26 whether they are from a farming background or not. Dorset YFC can be contacted on 01305 263947 or office@dorsetyfc.org.uk