06/06/2024
Hard to know what to say in this post, as I ponder about the recent media on National Federation of Young Farmers' Clubs and articles by the Farmers Weekly.
Firstly, no women, or men, should ever be made to feel victimised, or unsafe in any environment they are in, ever. That is not okay. And those people should be offered the help and support they need to move forward with their lives.
We also need to become influencers and educate the future generations on how to behave, and what is acceptable. We can't leave it to others or adopt a 'never happened to me so not my issue'. It is your issue, it is up to us how we shape our world.
But, what is also important to remember, is that YFC is an absolute lifeline for so many young people who are growing up in a world that is so confusing, so overwhelming at times, and can be an incredibly lonely place to be.
There are simply no words to describe the effect YFC has had on me as a person. I have memories I will treasure forever, and whilst searching for a photo to go with this post, I noted I have 144 albums on here (when people did that, back 'int day 👀), and only 13 of those are non YFC related. The photo i've picked is how I spent many a weekend, drinking blue WKD (what on earth was I thinking 🫤), often in a shed with my friends, dancing to Guns n Roses, laughing and enjoying life.
My bestest friends have all come through YFC, and they have been there through the darkest time of my life, my first role in marketing came because of my experience in YFC, and most importantly, my self confidence did. I will treasure every memory from the 10 AGM's I did, god nos how many Rally competitions, Public Speaking Days, darts matches, and endless stock judging to name just a few things.
I don't deny what has been in media is awful, and should have never have happened, but I am also grateful we've begun to create a world where people feel they can now talk about it.
Lets not tarnish all YFC with the same brush, this is a minority, not a majority.
