Young Farmers' Clubs of Ulster

Presidents Team 2025/26 – L-R Karen Walker (Vice President), Iain Wilson (Vice President), Adrianna Coulter (Vice President), Kristina Fleming (Deputy President), Richard Beattie (President), Joyce Allen (Vice President)

Six individuals in the YFCU Presidential Team appointed

Kathryn Walker and Tullaheady Blaze, Moneymore YFC, 65cm under 16 class

YFCU members enjoy a day out at the show jumping competition

Curragh and Kilrea YFC

YFCU entertain a sell-out audience at their annual arts festival gala

Ian Walker, Derek Lough, Richard Beattie and Mitchell Park

YFCU attend wide-scale tax inheritance protest in London on Pancake Tuesday

Randalstown YFC

YFCU clubs excel in the annual arts festival heats ahead of grand finale

Speakers at the conference

UFU agri conference a resounding success

Lauren McRoberts who is a member of Bleary Young Farmers’ Club during the summer of 2024 enjoyed an exchange trip to Canada

Lauren McRoberts says her Canadian exchange trip was a great experience

Stephen McCartney (Hyperfast NI), Derek Lough (YFCU) and Brooke Cameron (Hyperfast NI)

YFCU launches AGM supported by Hyperfast NI as principal sponsor

William Sufferin (SONI landowner engagement lead) and Derek Lough (YFCU CEO)

SONI proud to become platinum sponsor of Young Farmers’ Clubs of Ulster

Minister Muir addressing the Ulster Farmers Union and Young Farmers Clubs of Ulster conference. (Pic: DAERA)

Minister promises relentless efforts to find new opportunities for farming

Kristina Fleming (YFCU deputy president) and Lauren Hamilton (NFU Mutual)

Young Farmers’ Clubs of Ulster prepare to mark milestone anniversary

Stephen McCartney (Hyperfast NI), Derek Lough (YFCU) and Brooke Cameron (Hyperfast NI)

YFCU strikes success at annual bowling competition

Charlie Kilpatrick

Succession planning remains a critical issue for farm families

Richard Beattie, YFCU president, who recently attended the prestigious Oxford Farming Conference (OFC)

YFCU members experience the Oxford Farming Conference

UFU corporate sales executive Craig Scott pictured with YFCU chief executive officer Derek Lough.

UFU welcome YFCU as corporate member

Jack Bobo

My Farm 2100: A Glimpse into the Future
The Ulster Farmers’ Union, in partnership with the Young Farmers’ Clubs of Ulster, is delighted to launch their panel of speakers for their inaugural agricultural conference 2025, taking place on Wednesday 22 January at the Dunadry Hotel in Co. Antrim.
By The Newsroom

Ross Woodward and Bethany Wilson (Curragh YFC) won third place with Amy Bennington (Power NI). Picture: YFCU

Young Farmers’ hit high notes at annual choir festival

Participants of the YFCU Cultivating Young Leaders Programme with programme facilitators and sponsors. Picture: YFCU

YFCU excited to launch their Cultivating Young Leaders programme for second year

14-16 first place Seskinore YFC at the final of the group debating competition on Tuesday 26th November 2024. Picture: YFCU

Members showcase group debating skills at YFCU final in Omagh Academy

UFU Next Generation Forum members pictured with DAERA Minister Andrew Muir.

Meeting addresses key issues impacting young farmers

Twenty-four-year-old Eirinn Braniff from Co Down embarked on a Scottish Exchange trip in June 2024 as part of the travel programme organised by the Young Farmers’ Clubs of Ulster (YFCU)

Eirinn Braniff enjoys a memorable Scottish trip thanks to YFCU

Pictured are Richard Beattie (YFCU president), Barkley Thompson (The Farmers' Choir) and James Chestnutt (Chestnutt Animal Feeds)

Chestnutt Animal Feeds are official sponsors for the upcoming YFCU 95th event

Craig Scott (UFU) presents Derek Lough (YFCU) with certificate

YFCU are proud to be corporate members of the Ulster Farmers’ Union

Responding to last week's Budget announcement by the government the chief executive officer of the Young Farmers’ Clubs of Ulster (YFCU), Derek Lough said: “The budget has certainly created much concern for our young members.”

YFCU has raised a number of concerns at last week’s Budget announcement

Taking things easy at the 22nd Desertmartin Parish Church garden fete and vintage rally in August 2007 are Charlie and Willie. Picture: Simon Robinson

Bygone Days: Young farmers must provide ‘hope and vision to face the future’ say...

Lauren Hamilton (NFU) and Derek Lough (YFCU)

YFCU hold successful county heats for the public speaking competition

Adrianna Coulter, William Rea, James Scroggie and Shannen Vance

YFCU members take part in Five Nations Stock Judging finals
Young Farmers’ Clubs of Ulster (YFCU) were invited to participate in the Five Nations Stock Judging finals which were held on Wednesday 11th September 2024.
Darryl Armitage

Derek Lough who has been appointed as the new CEO of the YFCU

YFCU appoint Derek Lough as the organisation's new CEO

Richard Beattie, YFCU president, Amy Bennington, Power NI, and members of Holestone YFC

YFCU announce new sustainability competition with platinum sponsor Power NI

Zoe Weir, 22, from Annaclone and Magherally Young Farmers’ Club had the privilege of going to the Rural Youth Europe European Rally in July 2024 along with four other members of the Young Farmers’ Clubs of Ulster (YFCU)

Zoe Weir looks back on her time at Rural Youth Europe Rally

Lauren Vance was one of the five Young Farmers’ Clubs of Ulster (YFCU) members that travelled to Voore, Estonia for the 64th Rural Youth Europe European Rally

Lauren Vance discusses her trip of a lifetime to Estonia

Emily Clarke in Tallin, Estonia

Emily enjoys ‘trip of a lifetime’ to Estonia

Lauren Vance, Matthew Livingstone and Natalie Burrows at Balmoral Show. Picture: YFCU

Natalie Burrows discusses her plans as chairperson of the YFCU travel committee

Lauren Vance, Matthew Livingstone and Natalie Burrows at Balmoral Show. Picture: YFCU

YFCU launches their Cuppa and A Catch Up campaign

Kristina Fleming with singer and songwriter Lisa McHugh from Downtown Country. Picture: YFCU

YFCU deputy president Kristina Fleming speaks to Lisa McHugh at Balmoral

Deputy president Kristina Fleming calls out the awards at the YFCU AGM on Saturday 20th April 2024. Picture: YFCU

Kristina Fleming steps into her new role as deputy president of the YFCU

Hyperfast NI have come on board as principal sponsors for the YFCU.

YFCU Welcome Hyperfast NI as new principal sponsor

Next Generation Committee members pictured at the launch of the third tranche. Missing from photo, Ellen Moorehead, Vincent McCool and Lorraine Killen.

Third tranche of Next Generation Committee launched

Leah Crozier, NFU Mutual, Stuart Mills, YFCU president, and Matthew Meston at the arts YFCU festival gala at the Millennium Forum in Londonderry. Picture: YFCU

YFCU arts festival gala entertains a sell-out audience at the Millenium Forum

L-R Adjudicators Ita McVeigh & John Trueman, NFU Representative Richard Greer, YFCU VP Shannen Vance, YFCU President Stuart Mills and Gary Wilson, Compere.

Tickets on sale for YFCU Arts Festival Gala 2024

Pictured in December 1981 at a show and sale of Landrace pigs which was held at Cookstown, in the photo are James Coleman, Glarryford, the judge, Robert Overend, Bellaghy, and Frank Espley, NILPBA secretary. Picture: Farming Life archives/Darryl Armitage

Keen rivalry at YFCU debating competition held at Queen’s (1938)

Young Farmers' Clubs of Ulster agriculture environment and rural affairs committee members on their visit to the Ulster Wool Board. Picture: YFCU

YFCU committee in a fact-finding visit to the Ulster Wool Board

Straid YFC with Hyperfast NI representative at the YFCU ten pin bowling competition held at Dundonald Icebowl. Picture: YFCU

YFCU bowling competition strikes success with Hyperfast NI as proud sponsor

Scholars Richard Beattie and Matthew Gordon from the YFCU who attended the Oxford Farming Conference. Picture: YFCU

YFCU members take part in Oxford Farming Conference

UFU Next Gen members enjoying the discussion at Captein family's cheese farm in the Netherlands. Pic: UFU

Next Generation Forum open for applications

Pictured is the winning 12-14 group debating team from Donaghadee YFC receiving their certificates from guest speaker David Duly (Left) and YFCU deputy president Richard Beattie (right). Picture: Submitted

YFCU debating competition finals showcase talent

Grace Cotton attends Rural Youth Autumn Seminar in Georgia

Lifelong learning from the Good Shepherd

James (16-18) and Isabella Gregg(14-16) who won their respective impromptu classes with Stuart Mills, YFCU President,Paul Black, from the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) and Lauren Hamilton, NFU Mutual.

Top young speakers are revealed

YFCU members attending conference: Rebecca Clarke (Seskinore YFC), Ashley McConnell (Holestone YFC), Lynne Johnston (Randalstown YFC), Chloe Alexander (Clanabogan YFC), Sarah Spence (YFCU HQ), Andrea McFarland (Newtownstewart YFC), Sarah McFarland (Newtownstewart YFC) and Lucy-Jo McFarland (Clanabogan YFC). Picture: YFCU

YFCU attends UFU’s Women in Agriculture Conference

Paul Hawkes, NSM area sales manager, Gillian McKeown, YFCU CEO, Stuart Mills, YFCU president, Tuesday Pollock, NSM people and development manager and Jonathan Gault, NSM area sales manager. Picture: YFCU

Northstone Materials Limited and YFCU join forces

Martin Malone, NFU Mutual Northern Ireland manager (left), and Stuart Mills, YFCU president (right). Copyright: YFCU

NFU Mutual affirms Platinum support package for YFCU

Gleno Valley YFC members at their first night back. Picture: YFCU

YFCU members hold their first meetings across the country

Richard Beattie, YFCU deputy president, Peter Brown, solicitor Martin King French and Ingram LLP Solicitors, Rodney Brown, head of agribusiness Danske Bank, Shannen Vance, YFCU vice president. Picture: YFCU

YFCU has launched a new leadership programme for its members

Members of the AERA committee pictured with Gary Spence from Fane Valley. Picture: YFCU

YFCU members gain valuable soil insights