Understanding how to live more sustainably and meeting rural young people from across Europe was part of a five-day adventure at Rural Youth Europe’s European Rally for five YFC members.
NFYFC Chair Rosie Bennett headed up the England team, which included Charlotte Wilmot Jackson from Norfolk, Rose Woodcock from Shropshire, Ellamae Hinsley from Norfolk, and Henrietta Love from Dorset.
The annual rally, which was held in Carinthia in Austria this year, was titled Grow-Eat-Repeat: Circular Economy of Food. Participants took part in activities and discussions to develop awareness about the way we produce and consume food and the impact it has on the future of the planet.
It was an opportunity to share best practice with other member organisations from across Europe.
Rosie Woodcock lives on a beef, sheep and arable farm in Shropshire with her partner, and chose the trip as it could fit around her work and meant she could travel with like-minded people.
It was fantastic to meet so many people from different nations. The week’s timetable was meticulously planned out with both day and evening activities.
I thoroughly enjoyed the excursion days where I visited a mealworm farm, a brewery and an ice cream farm. My highlight of the week was going to my host family who were organic broiler farmers.
Rosie Woodcock
Rosie also won Rural Youth Europe’s social media challenge for a TikTok video she created with Henrietta about the excursion day.
NFYFC Chair Rosie Bennett said she had been “extremely proud” of the England team, adding, “the girls represented the Federation fantastically.”
The Rural Youth Europe European Rally is part of NFYFC’s YFC Travel programme and YFC members will have an opportunity to apply for the 2024 trip when the new programme is announced in September.
