County officers and staff from across England and Wales came together to develop skills and contacts for the year ahead in October at an event hosted by The National Federation of Young Farmers’ Clubs (NFYFC) in Warwickshire.
The annual training and development weekend delivered a packed schedule of energising workshops, practical learning, and plenty of YFC-style fun. The event aimed to equip county chairs, officers, and staff with new tools, fresh ideas, and stronger connections to help lead their counties with confidence and creativity.
This year’s theme –Ready to lead by example – set the tone for three days of collaboration and growth.
Workshops covered everything from inclusion and wellbeing to event safety and digital engagement, including standout sessions such as Next-Gen Engagement: AI for YFC Admin & Outreach, Dogs, Drugs & Security: Running Safe and Responsible Events, and Belonging by Design: Inclusive Recruitment and Retention.
The event also marked the first year all three days were open to both county staff and county leaders, making it easier for attendees to tailor their participation around work and home commitments.
Tom Fraser, Norfolk County Chair, described the experience as “educational,” adding:
“You learn that the national [team] are a very approachable bunch, and always willing to help you. Make sure you’re here next year.”
For Beth Whell, County Chair from Cornwall, the biggest takeaway was the power of connection:
“Networking – it’s the thing that I have taken from this the most. It’s really good to meet the other chairs and share your wins and experience. You’ve only got one year to be chair so you’d better crack on and start making some differences.
“My advice? Get to this event next year. You have such a limited timeframe to make a difference and the relationships you can build here really help your experience in the coming year.”
Devon’s Junior Vice Chair and Travel Chair, Harry Sprague, found the sessions deeply motivating:
“Inspirational. The speakers we’ve had telling us their views and what they get up to in life has definitely given us a broader horizon of what we can do and take back to our counties. Lots of fresh ideas. One piece of advice I would give is come along next year.”
Between formal sessions, participants enjoyed team challenges, regional discussions, and lively networking evenings – all contributing to a sense of belonging and shared purpose.
As delegates headed home on Sunday afternoon, one message was clear: leading by example starts with learning together, and everyone’s already looking forward to doing it all again next year.
