10. Short Debate: Wales Young Farmers Clubs: Developing conscientious young people in rural Wales

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 6:24 pm on 20 October 2021.

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Photo of James Evans James Evans Conservative 6:24, 20 October 2021

Diolch, Llywydd, and I hope you'll be flexible with my minute. I'd like to thank Sam Kurtz for giving a minute of his time today, but, more than that, I'd like to thank the whole of the YFC movement in Radnorshire for giving me the skills and the opportunity to be able to stand here today and speak in this debate. YFC does a huge amount of work to develop young people, from public speaking to helping charities, stock judging, teaching respect for communities and also finding your future love. [Laughter.]

YFC gave me the opportunity to represent my club of Rhosgoch at my county of Radnorshire, then to my country of Wales, and then national young farmers at the European council of YFCs. And to be able to represent young farmers from across the whole of England and Wales was a massive honour, and it was great. On Sunday, I was only giving back to an organisation that gave me so much by judging the public speaking competition, which was a fantastic standard, and well done to everybody involved.

YFC is a fantastic organisation, and personally I believe it is the best youth movement in the whole world. It's great, and I would like to thank everyone in the movement for the amazing work you do. As the previous YFC organiser for Radnorshire, Gaynor James, told me just after the election result, 'If it weren't for good old YFC, Evans, you wouldn't be where you are today.' And I'd like to confirm, if it wasn't for 'good old YFC', I definitely would not be here today. Diolch.