Young people from six counties went head to head in Dorset to test their farming skills.

Representatives from Dorset, Somerset, Cornwall, Gloucestershire, Wiltshire and Devon all went head to head to compete in the Young Farmers Club's (YFC) South West Area Competitions Weekend.

The competition was hosted by Dorset YFC this year and was held at Kingston Maurward College.

The competitions included in the event were designed to test the full variety of skills that the membership of Young Farmers aspires to develop in young people. The contest included a wide age range from 10 to 28.

Dorset Echo: Stockjudging competition

Winners of the contest went forward to the Nationals Competitions Days at Staffordshire County Showground.

All six counties in the South West put forward their best teams and individuals to compete in the 10 competitions and each county had something to cheer about at the end.

The morning’s competitions varied with recycled metalwork as well as individual work like stock judging and needlework - including making an outfit for the races out of recycled clothing and modelling it for all to see. Dorset Young Farmers have also gone forward to represent their county and South West Area in mixed basketball at the national finals in July.

Dorset Echo: First place winner of metalcraft from Somerset YFC

On Sunday the ladies, juniors and men’s tug of war was staged.

Devon YFC managed to win both the men and junior classes of the tug of war and they go through to the NFYFC Finals to represent South West Area. Somerset ladies managed to pip all the other Counties to the post with their final pull.

Nick Sansom, the South West Area President, said: "The event was a great success and it was wonderful to see the enthusiasm of the young farmers at such a great venue."

The stock judging was held on Saturday. 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.

The finals for this competition will be held on Saturday, September 2 and Sunday, 3. The south-west will be represented by members from Devon YFC, Dorset YFC and Somerset YFC within the Junior or Senior Sections.

The overall winner for the day was Devon YFC, with Cornwall YFC coming second. Third was Somerset YFC, fourth was Dorset YFC, fifth was Gloucestershire and sixth was Wiltshire YFC.