Ben Goulding, 27, Weston and Banwell YFC, Somerset

Shortlisted for a Heart of YFC Award. 

Ever since Ben joined YFC he has thrown himself into all that it has to offer. He joined the organisation later than most at the age of 21 and was not from a farming background, but he wasted no time in taking part in competitions and supporting club activities.

He was quick to volunteer to take on roles in the club – starting with Carnival Secretary and rising to Club Chairman and County Vice Chairman among numerous other roles. Most recently he was elected part of the Covid-19 Committee to help manage the County operations during the pandemic.

During lockdown he instigated and helped to run some of the County’s virtual competitions as he felt it was important for members to keep their spirits up while YFC was no longer able to hold meetings. He encouraged people to participate online to make sure they could still continue to improve skills in public speaking and stockjudging.

Back when Ben was a Group Chairman, he took on the role of organising the County final of the Stockjudging competition and despite his lack of farming knowledge at the time, he created a successful event – sourcing livestock, liaising with Defra over licences and encouraging sponsorship from local businesses.

It is Ben’s willingness to have a go that has encouraged others to do the same – like the time he helped the Club take a Brainstrust team to the County final and led them to victory, despite them never doing the competition before.

He has also improved the club’s standards at stockjudging by organising demonstrations, which all helped him and other club members come home with a range of trophies from the Bath & West Show.

His confidence and progression in YFC is a world away from the Ben that once struggled with anxiety before joining the organisation. Mental wellbeing is important to Ben and he always looks out for others in the club and will act quickly to show support if someone is struggling with their mental health.

Ben has created a scrapbook about his YFC journey and it is hoped it will inspire others to try new things and to join the organisation. 

Throughout Ben’s time in YFC, he has not only focused on his own personal development, but also helped to bring out the best in other young people too – helping them to achieve goals they didn’t think possible.