YFCU announces UFU Exchange Programme bursary recipients

This year two YFCU members will be supported by a bursary and part of the sponsorship package involves them reporting back on a subject with an agricultural theme.

Recipients of the bursaries are Hannah Kirkpatrick from Kilraughts YFC who will travel to Canada and Matthew Patterson from Spa YFC who will travel to Montana to stay with host families throughout their exchange. Matthew will also be following in his father’s footsteps who travelled to Montana 30 years ago on the same YFCU Exchange Programme.

The Exchange Programme has been offered through YFCU for over 60 years and forms many international lifetime friendships. Members compete for places, are interviewed by a panel and receive intensive training before heading off to their foreign destinations.

UFU President Barclay Bell said: “We are delighted to be partnering up again with the YFCU to sponsor their Exchange Programme. We have tasked Hannah and Matthew to report back on some of the agricultural practises that they come into contact with and therefore their experiences will be of benefit to farmers here in Northern Ireland.”

YFCU CEO Michael Reid said: “We are grateful to have UFU onboard to support this key area of the Association. This partnership allows the UFU to gain from the expertise Hannah and Matthew will encounter in their travels abroad.

“We wish our members well as they plan for their trip and trust they get as much out of the experience as previous members have found.”