In your field: Kate Beavan - ‘I am honoured to be judging an NFYFC award’

Romance is in the air (for the sheep, not us) and the new tups are working hard and we hope to see the evidence of their efforts when we scan.

Apple pressing is full steam ahead. We were filling barrels with perry juice last week and the smell is amazing. We have found a lovely perry pear orchard locally, estimated to be more than 300 years old.

We use traditional methods which result in characters and flavours which can only be found when you ferment a cider, or perry, to its fullest extent and then leave it there, naturally.

If you are unsure what perry is, you are not alone and there is debate over the use of the term pear cider in its place. Perry is made from 100 per cent perry pears, and some pear ciders contain sugars and flavourings.

The National Federation of Young Farmers’ Clubs (NFYFC) has launched its first awards programme to recognise the achievements of YFC members and the farming community, and I was honoured to be invited to be one of the judges for NFYFC’s Entrepreneur of the Year Award.

The aim of the awards is to celebrate the achievements of rural young people, especially during a time of such uncertainty.

Due to the pandemic, many YFC members have not been able to compete and have missed out on the opportunity to build their confidence and skills.

These new awards aim to recognise how members have supported their communities and each other during these challenging times.

With some fantastic entries, it was not an easy decision to make. Winners will be revealed during National Young Farmers’ Week on October 26-30.

This is the biggest promotional week in the YFC year to celebrate all that is great about being involved in the largest rural youth organisation in the UK. And it has a lot to answer for as it is how I met Jim.