CUMBRIA’S young farmers have been busy getting into the Christmas spirit.

For the last month they have been showing their creative side and making good use of seasonal glitter and tinsel to make entries for their Virtual Christmas Competition.

The idea behind the festive competition was for the young farmers to have a bit of fun and reconnect with each other, either at meetings in person or virtually. There were nine classes for members and two additional classes for those too young to be a current member.

Entries flooded in from young farmers all over the county with some colourful and creative ideas for Decorated biscuits, Christmas Tree Decoration, Christmas Wrapping Paper, Christmas Card, Christmas Cracker, Christmas Poem, Christmas Cakes, Table Decorations, and Wrapping a Shoebox.

Results included:

Decorated Biscuits: Jess Wilson from Skelton YFC; Christmas Tree Decoration: Sarah Bland from Grayrigg YFC; Christmas Wrapping Paper: Kent Estuary’s Alice Walmsley; Christmas Card: Skelton YFC’s Tyra Mason; Christmas Cracker: Martha Galbraith of Grayrigg YFC; Christmas Poem: 1st and 2nd place going to Lowick YFC members, Hayley Simpson and Carrie Tyson respectively; Christmas Cakes: Martha Galbraith from Grayrigg YFC; Table Centrepieces: Lucy Peile from Skelton YFC, Wrap a shoebox: Louise Butterworth from Eden Valley YFC

The final two competitions were designed for those Cumbria YFC followers who are too young to be a young farmer yet! Class 4a. Make a playdough Father Christmas or Snowman for those aged up to six years resulted in some fantastic entries that impressed judge Leanne Wilson.

First place went to Ronnie Wignall, aged six, from Kent Estuary whose “before and after” snowman captivated the judge with lovely detail and careful use of colours. Five-year-old Charlotte Davidson from Raughton Head YFC created another lovable snowman complete with a hat with holly and berries and stick arms. Third place was awarded to Olly Fisher from Pennine YFC for his friendly-faced snowman.

Class 4b. Make a Christmas Picture for those aged 7 – 9 years was judge by Helen Sibbald who was delighted to judge the very creative entries.

Awarded first place for his picture featuring Santa racing across a midnight sky was Percy Wignall, aged nine, from Kent Estuary YFC. Jimmy Sommerville also nine from Eden Valley took second place with his eye-catching use of different media to create a fun and festive picture and third place was awarded to Kent Estuary’s Rita Wignall, aged seven, for her Elf on the Shelf.

After the scores from all the classes had been totted up, the results were as follows:

Lowick 1110; Kent Estuary 890; Skelton 770; Grayrigg 720; Eden Valley 610; Raughton Head 520; Pennine 280; Crook 170; Drigg 140; Longtown 120.

The young farmers would like to give a big thank you to all the judges who took part in the competition:

Eileen Mason, Nicola Wilkinson, Judith Emmott, Chris Hogg, Claire Todd, Stephen Rowlinson, Gillian Potts, Sophie Brooksbank, Nicola Steadman, Leanne Wilson and Helen Sibbald and to the competition scorer, Matthew Burbury.

A Cumbria YFC spokesperson said: “It has been a roller coaster year for the young farmers in so many ways, but they have kept busy and kept going. As the year draws to a close and they look towards 2021 with renewed hope the young farmers would like to wish all their members and supporters a Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year!”

For full results and photographs of the Virtual Christmas Competition see the January Farmer published on Friday, January 29, 2021. Meanwhile, Skelton YFC are holding a Virtual Raffle, tickets £5 with monies raised for The Salvation Army and Cash For Kids Mission Christmas.