Young farmers helped raise £1,700 for the North West Air Ambulance during the opening hours of their 2018 annual convention weekend.
Members were asked to donate £2 for the special cause in exchange for a Farmers Guardian t-shirt.
The sun was shining as the FG team welcomed thousands of Young Farmers who descended on Blackpool for the most popular event on their calendar, the annual convention weekend.
More than 5,700 tickets have already been sold, the highest in a decade, and the National Federation of Young Farmers Clubs are predicting more sales on the doors over the weekend which could see numbers rise in excess of 6,300.
Huge thanks to all the young farmers who helped raise over £1,600 for @NWAirAmbulance!#YFCAGM18 pic.twitter.com/cvNMco7dhe
— Farmers Guardian (@FarmersGuardian)Huge thanks to all the young farmers who helped raise over £1,600 for @NWAirAmbulance!#YFCAGM18 pic.twitter.com/cvNMco7dhe
— Farmers Guardian (@FarmersGuardian) May 4, 2018
True to form, members were in fine spirits as they arrived for Friday’s registration after travelling in their buses from across the country ready to enjoy a weekend of competitions, debate, friendship and camaraderie.
Each year Farmers Guardian raises money for a farming charity and this year funds will be donated to the Air Ambulance service to help continue honouring the iconic response unit.
It takes the final figure donated to the charity to just under £5,000 following NFYFC’s decision to place a surcharge on each ticket sold to the annual convention.
More than 5,700 tickets were sold to the event, with more YFC members expected to buy tickets on the door over the weekend. The event is estimated to contribute £4.3m to the local Blackpool economy.
Synonymous with the farming community, the Air Ambulance Service provides 24 hour, 365-days-a-year accident and emergency services to those in need of urgent medical treatment and transport and YFC members were only to happy to supoort the cause.
Farming Today presenter and NFYFC President Charlotte Smith will chair the 86th annual general meeting during the weekend, which includes a proposal from the national council to increase membership levy by £5.
Smith will also facilitate at the AGRI Big Ideas Brunch on the Saturday, where Rob Boole, agronomist, Sir John Campbell, founder of multi million pound business Glenrath Farms and Chris Cardell, a Cornish tenant farmer, will impart their advice on establishing a successful future career in the industry.
As well as national competition finals for pantomime performances, senior member of the year, jump rope and disco dancing will feature.