Annual Report 2018/19

Mount Lodge YFC has had a great year!

During the Christmas period, we had our YFC presentations where all the members were recognised for their achievements throughout the year and received medals. Moving on into the festivities Mount Lodge YFC held a Christmas Open Afternoon, members and users of the farm sold crafts they had made running up to the event, served refreshments and hosted their families and friends for the duration. Somewhere in the middle of all of this we competed at a chilly Ashford Fatstock Show with lambs. To round of a busy month the young farmers enjoyed their last day at the farm before the holidays with a Christmas party.

Into the New Year we went onto taking part in the Winter Competitions day which was enjoyed by all of our members who entered classes and attended the day, especially those who took part in the Makaton choir and qualified for South East Area.

Before we knew it, we were up to eyes with lambs, and this year we had our 4 ne

w additions to the farm Bill, Olive, Chesnut and Daisy the calves. Following on from this we had a family open day during lambing and Easter, to invite all of our members family and friends to enjoy the new life the farm had to offer. With lambing over and done with for another year we were back onto singing and signing ready for South East Area, which was a very exciting day out at Hadlow College for our members.

Summewas on the horizon, which only meant one thing, Kent Show. This year we decided to have a warm up session for showing by attending the Heathfield Show with our Welsh Black Mountain ram, Archie and a few lambs. The endless weeks of preparation soon started and lamb training commenced with all of our members getting involved. The members were really excited to train the calves too and complete calf books, neither of which we had done before. The hard work was all worth it when Mount Lodge YFC had a fantastic time at the show, meeting lots of great people, winning lots of unexpected prizes and all of our members loving every minute! We were fortunate enough to bring some of our adults from the farm to compete in the new lamb class for adults over the competing age with disabilities, who all had a great day out at the show.

Returning to reality after a hectic few months, we were planning for Biddenden Tractorfest, a lovely country show on our doorstep where we were asked to organise a sheep show demonstration over both days. Over the weekend in August we took our show lambs, donkeys, Shetland and a stall of homemade crafts and games to the show, a great weekend of fun had by all, and amazing interest in the sheep showing and what we get up to with.

To end a super summer, we held a ‘Summer Family Picnic’ with games and a surprise visit from the ice cream van!

 

As autumn approached, we attended a stifling hot Weald of Kent Ploughing Match in September, where we replicated our Tractorfest stand, with crafts, tombola and games.

In between all of this, we squeezed in lots of gardening, building, arts & crafts and alongside the calves the farm has also introduced some new breeds of sheep, Black Welsh Mountains and some lodging Herdwicks to run alongside our existing flock.

Mount Lodge YFC now have over 30 members going ahead into the new year, which we are very proud of.

 

 

 

 

 

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