While Wales YFC is a charity itself, its members are never shy of raising some much needed funds for other charities, both local and national. My favourite YFC memory was when I was one of 27 other members and supporters of Pembrokeshire YFC who cycled the 250 miles from Haverfordwest showground to our national annual general meeting in Blackpool, over four days. We were hosted by another YFC on our stopover in Oswestry, and upon arriving in Blackpool were greeted by cheering, slightly intoxicated, crowds. As the dust settled and the saddle sores healed, mine included, the total raised was £27,000, split between Prostate Cymru and Wales Air Ambulance. 

The movement also offers accredited training and travel opportunities to far-flung corners of the world. It even offers what some would consider more simple things, such as how to chair a meeting successfully, and as a member of the Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee, I can see those excellent chairmanship skills in play as Paul Davies himself is a former young farmer member, and chairs the committee with excellent skills.

The constraints of the last 18 months, however, have meant that the movement has had to adapt. While club nights and competitions have moved online, young farmers didn't forget about their role in their locality. Throughout the pandemic, members across Wales served their local communities with distinction. Even before the first lockdown in March 2020, clubs were already organising shopping trips and prescription pick-ups for their most vulnerable neighbours. As the lockdown took hold, it was the YFC members, as part of the volunteer network, who supported our most rural and vulnerable. Members did this for no other reason than to support those who needed it, while, of course, many young farmers continued to farm the land, tend to their animals and look after their crops.

I was reminded of this when, on Sunday evening, at the Pembrokeshire YFC harvest thanksgiving festival, each and every club in the county donated a large hamper of food towards local food bank, PATCH. Even at a service where the young farmers could have easily sat back and been thankful for what they had, they were not only thinking of but supporting those who are far less fortunate—testament to the young farmers. Last week at the royal opening of the Senedd, Eleri George, past chairman of Pembrokeshire's Keyston YFC, was here representing her club as a COVID champion—a small acknowledgement of the many members who supported their communities throughout this time.

And that's really why I wanted to bring forward this short debate this afternoon on the YFC movement, because when some people want to tarnish the youth of today as selfish, lazy and rude, I can honestly say that those people must never have dealt with the conscientious, caring and selfless members of the young farmers clubs of Wales.

And if I may, Minister, listening on Zoom, I would like to link back to some of the points that your colleague the Minister for Economy mentioned in his statement yesterday. He talked about the Welsh Government's young person's guarantee, and how the Jobs Growth Wales+ programme would help to create life-changing opportunities for those who are not in education, employment or training. He also mentioned the value that supporting stronger local economies will have in helping to sustain the Welsh language amongst young people in rural Wales in particular. If this Government is looking for examples of where these aspirations are already in action, where young people are supported, their skills developed and the Welsh language sustained, then they need look no further than the YFCs of Wales, who've been producing conscientious young people in rural Wales for decades.

This afternoon's short debate for me has been a labour of love. I'm quite adamant that I wouldn't be here or be the person I am without the YFC, and for that, while some opposition Members may not be, I am eternally grateful. But how many young people out there could benefit from this organisation? How can we here help to support our local YFCs to recruit more members, improving the opportunities for those who may not have them? Therefore, I urge all Members listening to this debate, and what I can only imagine to be the many hundreds and thousands of people watching this debate live, to go and tell people that you know about what the YFC can offer the young people of Wales. And remember, you don't have to be a farmer to be a young farmer. Diolch.