THE cheeky charm of the county's young farmers kept Cheshire Show visitors well entertained once agin, with hundreds staying late to watch their trademark antics.

With more than 800 members, Cheshire Young Farmers Club (CYF) pulls together 11 local clubs who support young people working in agriculture and the countryside by getting them off their farms for sporting events, competitions, and social activities.

Dairy farmer and CYFC chairman, Tom Oulton, said this year’s show was a bumper one, with fantastic entries for the ever-popular interclub float competition, and first-class displays of team spirit in their infamous tug o’ war contest and Main Ring annual water fight.

They even hosted celebrity guests, including farming YouTube stars Tom Pemberton and Olly Harrison, and former Emmerdale star-turned-farmer, Kelvin Fletcher, who judged the individual clubs’ stand competition in their main tent.  

Northwich Guardian: Emily Hamand and Tom Oulton covered themselves in glory in the Main Ring water fightEmily Hamand and Tom Oulton covered themselves in glory in the Main Ring water fight (Image: Emily Proudlove)

Tom, who’s been involved with Young Farmers’ for 11 years, said a highlight for him was when a team of 55 farmers tried to full the combine harvester YouTuber Olly Harrison drove 875 miles from Land’s End to John o’ Groats for charity.

He added: “This year’s been an especially great show for us actually.

“We had 10 of the 11 clubs enter the float competition, and hundreds of people stayed late to watch the water fight in the Main Ring at the end of the day.

Northwich Guardian: Some of the competitors train from January for the annual tug o' war competition Some of the competitors train from January for the annual tug o' war competition (Image: Emily Proudlove)

"That so many people stayed on to watch us shows just how much of a pull the Young Farmers movement's got.

"YFCs are brilliant for drawing us all together on a weekly or monthly basis. They get us out the house and off the farm, but the shows take that even further.

"They’re really important because we get to see friends we might only see once or twice a year.

Northwich Guardian: Winners of the 2023 float contenst, Malpas YFC, receiving their trophy - (L to R): CYFchair lady, Emily Hamand; Victoria Dakin, Malpas YFC chair lady; Lewis Ward, Malpas YFC chairman; Alan Newton, Cheshire Show President; and Tom Oulton, Cheshire YFC chairmanWinners of the 2023 float contenst, Malpas YFC, receiving their trophy - (L to R): CYFchair lady, Emily Hamand; Victoria Dakin, Malpas YFC chair lady; Lewis Ward, Malpas YFC chairman; Alan Newton, Cheshire Show President; and Tom Oulton, Cheshire YFC chairman (Image: Emily Proudlove)

"They're all about getting behind your own club, and that sense of belonging it gives you. It’s a great feeling.

"For the tug o’ war, people train from January, and to win after all that nice graft is great.

"It gives you a real sense of occasion that you just don’t get every day."

Tom sees county shows as a great opportunity for Young Farmers' to show the public what they’re really all about.  

Northwich Guardian: A team of 55 young farmers tried to pull farming YouTuber and charity fundraiser Olly Harrison's combine harvesterA team of 55 young farmers tried to pull farming YouTuber and charity fundraiser Olly Harrison's combine harvester (Image: Emily Proudlove)

He added: “From our point of view, they’re a platform for us to show the public what we’re doing. There are a lot of misconceptions about us out there. It’s not all alcohol fuelled.

“We do a lot of charity work, sports events, and competitions right throughout the year. There’s more to us than meets the eye.

“And we’re not just all about farming. There really is something for everyone.”