On the 16th May, I went to the Bedfordshire Young Farmers Rally to help support the event team in running the day.
The Young Farmers Rally included lots of animal shows and competitions between different Young Farmer districts, including tug of war, eating competitions, and obstacle races. There was also a grand finale where decorated floats took part in a parade in the central arena. Alongside this, there were many business stands and family activities such as bouncy castles and food stalls.
As part of the event team, we helped direct the many many cars into the car park and guided drivers into their spaces. We also handed out promotional leaflets for the Bedfordshire Young Farmers Club. At the same time, we had the opportunity to raise money towards our World Scout Jamboree fundraising.
You Don’t Have to Be a Farmer to Join Young Farmers
One thing I learned from the event is that you do not actually need to be a farmer to join Young Farmers.
Being part of Young Farmers is really about enjoying the outdoors, meeting people, and making long-term friends. Agriculture can be a large or small part of the experience depending on what interests you.
Members are aged between 10 and 28 years old and come from many different backgrounds. Bedfordshire Young Farmers helps young people build confidence, develop skills, and try new experiences, which in some ways is similar to Scouts.
My experience helping at the event
It was a long day, and by the end I was very tired, but I also felt we had done a good job helping the event run smoothly.
From an autism perspective, I actually found this event less challenging than the May Day Fair event because there were larger gaps between interacting with people. Walking around the quieter parts of the car park also gave me time to regulate and recharge.
During breaks, I explored the animal pens and saw sheep, cows, and pigs and try out the argricultural vehicles.
I also visited some of the food stalls. One of the highlights was an apple crumble stand, which was honestly amazing. In the photo above, I found the perfect spot to eat my lunch!
As one of the younger members of the Bedfordshire Black Cats, I spent more time collecting donations from visitors than working directly in the car park, although I still helped with parking as well. It was useful to learn more about how large events are organised and managed.
I think I was particularly good at asking for donations. Having to approach people and speak to them is helping me gain confidence over time. The highest individual donations we received were £10, and several people gave that amount.
Fundraising Results
By the end of the day, we had raised over £550, which meant £44.20 went towards my personal fundraising target for the World Scout Jamboree.
The event organisers also thanked and complimented us for our work, which felt rewarding after such a long day.
Overall, I really enjoyed the experience. There were lots of activities, many charities involved, and a good atmosphere throughout the day. It was hard work, but it also felt worthwhile because we raised a significant amount of money while helping support the event.
And, of course, the apple crumble was still one of the best parts of the day.
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