Ahoghill YFC flying high!

AFTER a hugely successful re-launch in August of last year, Ahoghill Young Farmers’ Club have gone from strength to strength in their first year since being reformed.
By The Newsroom
Published 8th Feb 2012, 09:13 BST

Their eighth club meeting of the winter session recently took place in Gracehill Primary School which took the form of their agm .

This followed seven extremely well attended meetings previously, which involved everything from ‘new age’ curling, to a farm walk at Hoy’s of Parkgate, a ‘hot and spicy’ night of dancing, to trips to ‘Planet Fun’ at Halloween, and the Grand Opera House to see the pantomime ‘Jack and the Beanstalk’ at Christmas. Attendances peaked at 96 members at the farm walk, with the average number of members present being a very credible 81.

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Alan Boyd, County Antrim chairman of the YFCU, conducted the agm and all offices without exception were contested.

The result was - President: Fiona Speers, Club Leader: Craig Hamilton, Assistant Club Leader: Richard McKeown, Secretary: Lucy Hurrell, Assistant Club Secretary: Ruth Dick, Club Treasurer: Stuart Gillespie, Assistant Club Treasurer: Stephen Gillespie, P.R.O.: Catherine Watson, Assistant P.R.O.: Kirsty Speers, Stock-judging Secretaries: Timothy and Philip Gregg, Catering Officer: Michelle Petticrew, Assistant Catering Officer: Heather Steele, County Committee Rep.: Stephen Shaw. Newly elected Vice-Presidents are: Ian Small, David Gillespie, Linda Petticrew, Samuel Watson, Heather Gillespie, Elizabeth Watson, David Hood, Thomas Marshall, Hilary McBride, Richard Hood, Alan McWhirter, Robert Dick.

Newly re-appointed trustees are Hugh Kernohan, John Junkin, William Hood and Robert Dick. Auditor: Leanne Holland. The committee of the Club is to be formed consisting of the main office bearers with the addition of Gareth Gault, Sam Steele, Michael Dickey, Carly Gilmore, Jason Benton and Hannah Gilmore.

Approximately four members of the re-launch committee are still actively involved in helping and advising the newly elected office bearers in their preparation for taking over their new posts at the beginning of April and will continue to support their successful transition if and when necessary.

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Behind the scenes it has been an extremely busy few months with an order just about to be placed for 75 new Rugby shirts for new members. Two major sponsors have come on board whose logos will appear on the new shirts and these will be announced very shortly. Meanwhile, the committee are very active in getting the next club meeting organised to facilitate the arrival of Kells & Connor Young Farmers’ on Thursday February 9.

BBC cameras will be filming that day at member’s farms and will again be there at the club meeting on the night, aiming to find out why most youth organisations are on the decline, whereas the Young Farmers are bucking that trend, with the Ahoghill Young Farmers’ Club being no exception to that, given membership at the newly formed club is now nudging 100 members.