NFYFC strengthened its role as a leading voice for young people in rural communities after the officer team took part in the Rural Youth Europe Rural Youth Forward Conference in Spain at the end of February.
The event brought together around 100 rural youth leaders, young farmers and policymakers from across Europe to discuss the future of rural communities and shape a collective direction for policy and practice. NFYFC Chair Jesscia Rose and Vice Chair Alex McMenemy were among the young leaders in Spain.
Delivered by Rural Youth Europe and EPA Spain, with support from Erasmus+ and the Council of Europe, the conference opened with an address from Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez - setting a strong tone for high-level political engagement.
According to Alex, the opening remarks “made it clear that rural youth voice is becoming a priority at the highest levels of government, particularly in shaping future rural policy.”
Throughout the conference, delegates identified common challenges facing rural youth across Europe. Access to land, rural employment opportunities and meaningful participation in policymaking were recurring themes. These echoed issues seen in the UK, which Jessica said was a chance to learn from international peers.
“That creates a real opportunity for NFYFC to both learn from others and also position ourselves as a leading voice in this space,” she said.
A major focus was generational renewal in farming, with only 12% of farmers in Europe currently under 40. Discussions highlighted familiar barriers such as affordability, unclear entry routes and the need for farming to be a viable and attractive career path. Policymakers stressed the importance of ensuring young farmers have a louder voice in agricultural decision‑making.
The conference emphasised a shift from youth consultation towards genuine youth co‑decision‑making, encouraging structures where young people shape policy from the outset.
“The message was that democracy must be experienced, not just taught,” Alex said. “Young people aren’t just the future – they’re the present.”
Skills, mobility and digital access were also positioned as essential for creating opportunities in rural areas. Delegates discussed the effectiveness of practical, “learning by doing” approaches and the value of proactive outreach to ensure young people feel heard and involved.
Collaboration emerged as a key theme, with many European organisations using youth advisory boards, consensus‑based decision‑making and cross‑sector partnerships to develop policy.
The insights gathered provide opportunities for NFYFC to strengthen its approach. While the organisation already excels in engagement and representation, the conference highlighted where it can build on mentoring and skills development and take a more active role in policy discussions.
Jessica reflected: “What stood out was the level of motivation and willingness to engage and lead. A key message throughout was that young people need to feel they have the power to create change - and that policy must be grounded in both evidence and lived experience. We were advised to ‘be loud’.”
NFYFC will now share conference learnings with its Board, YFC AGRI and policy workstreams, helping build a stronger platform for UK rural youth voices both nationally and internationally.
