Western Southland District Young Farmers Club
Record Group
Identifier: A0521
Dates
- Majority of material found within 1933 - 1986
Western Southland District Young Farmers Club
The movement had its beginnings in the school-based Gardening Clubs, set up to educate young people in agricultural topics and as part of the WWI War effort. At the time, equal access to secondary education was not available to all, so most youngsters left school at 11 years of age which meant that most farmers left school at the end of their primary schooling.
The first official YFC club was established in Fielding in 1927. It expanded rapidly, with the majority of clubs springing up in the South Island. By 1936, in part due to moving the headquarters to Wellington, there was a more even spread of clubs across both islands, with 118 in total.
The YFC motto was "Youth, Farming and Citizenship'and its role in agricultural education has been crucial to the development of modern farming practices. It was a non-sectarian and non-political organisation, that worked primarily with youth 'to produce better farmers and citizens through agricultural education, leadership, thrift, perseverance, self-reliance and co-operation with authorities in agricultural education'.
Given the age of many YFC members (14-30) and most being single, numbers decreased markedly during the war years. Emphasis was placed on recruiting younger lads/school leavers and on helping them to fill places left by servicemen. Enthusiasm for the organisation was maintained by members in the Forces. Fourteen clubs were formed in Service Units in the Pacific; one in a P.O.W. Camp in Italy; others in Base Units in the Middle East. In June 1941 a new club was formed in Egypt. School Clubs were encouraged by the Council of YFC - e.g.at RNZAF Taieri Aerodrome, Otago. In 1941 the organisation initiated discussion regarding YFC Memorials that resulted in Buildings at Massey and Linclon Agricultural Colleges. In June 1944, the Council passed a remit, urging the Government to arrange for the setting up of further Health Camps to be available to returned soldiers, and that they be built as Memorials to YFC members who had fallen in the war. There was a recovery in numbers after the war with 306 clubs operating by 1948.
The Federation of Country Girls' Clubs were established in 1948. Until then, YFC had not favoured female membership because it was feared the focus of YFC would become too 'social'. They were able to become 'Associate Members' of YFC from 1950, and full members after amalgamation with YFC in 1973 to become the New Zealand Federation of Young Farmers.
In 2003 it was renamed to New Zealand Young Farmers and today runs several programmes, including 'Get Ahead','AgriKids NZ', 'TeenAg' and 'Ag in Schools'. The movement has contributed hugely in terms of training and educating young farmers, and by promoting post school/tertiary education in agricultural topics. Over the years due to such events as 'Field Days', and competitions such as'National Sheep Dog Trials', ' Bernina Make'n'Model Fashion Competition' and the popular 'NZ Young Farmer of the Year', public interest in and appreciation for agriculture and farming generally, has been created.
- Notes by E. Easton -
See Bibliography for References
The first official YFC club was established in Fielding in 1927. It expanded rapidly, with the majority of clubs springing up in the South Island. By 1936, in part due to moving the headquarters to Wellington, there was a more even spread of clubs across both islands, with 118 in total.
The YFC motto was "Youth, Farming and Citizenship'and its role in agricultural education has been crucial to the development of modern farming practices. It was a non-sectarian and non-political organisation, that worked primarily with youth 'to produce better farmers and citizens through agricultural education, leadership, thrift, perseverance, self-reliance and co-operation with authorities in agricultural education'.
Given the age of many YFC members (14-30) and most being single, numbers decreased markedly during the war years. Emphasis was placed on recruiting younger lads/school leavers and on helping them to fill places left by servicemen. Enthusiasm for the organisation was maintained by members in the Forces. Fourteen clubs were formed in Service Units in the Pacific; one in a P.O.W. Camp in Italy; others in Base Units in the Middle East. In June 1941 a new club was formed in Egypt. School Clubs were encouraged by the Council of YFC - e.g.at RNZAF Taieri Aerodrome, Otago. In 1941 the organisation initiated discussion regarding YFC Memorials that resulted in Buildings at Massey and Linclon Agricultural Colleges. In June 1944, the Council passed a remit, urging the Government to arrange for the setting up of further Health Camps to be available to returned soldiers, and that they be built as Memorials to YFC members who had fallen in the war. There was a recovery in numbers after the war with 306 clubs operating by 1948.
The Federation of Country Girls' Clubs were established in 1948. Until then, YFC had not favoured female membership because it was feared the focus of YFC would become too 'social'. They were able to become 'Associate Members' of YFC from 1950, and full members after amalgamation with YFC in 1973 to become the New Zealand Federation of Young Farmers.
In 2003 it was renamed to New Zealand Young Farmers and today runs several programmes, including 'Get Ahead','AgriKids NZ', 'TeenAg' and 'Ag in Schools'. The movement has contributed hugely in terms of training and educating young farmers, and by promoting post school/tertiary education in agricultural topics. Over the years due to such events as 'Field Days', and competitions such as'National Sheep Dog Trials', ' Bernina Make'n'Model Fashion Competition' and the popular 'NZ Young Farmer of the Year', public interest in and appreciation for agriculture and farming generally, has been created.
- Notes by E. Easton -
See Bibliography for References
Extent
4 box(es) (Boxes 1 - 4, Frame: East )
Language of Materials
English
Bibliography
'Fifty years a-growing : a brief history of the origins and activities of the Otago-Southland Regional Committee of YFC's (Inc.)' by Helena Johnston
Reference: LC 630.6 JOH
Reference: LC 630.6 JOH
- This booklet was published in 1988 to commemorate the 50th Jubilee of the amalgamation of Young Farmers' and Country Girls' Clubs, known today as the NZ Young Farmers (NZYF).
- Appendix: Lists the names of 'Office Bearers 1938-1988'; Otago-Southland Members who were Dominion Council Presidents 1934-1988; Otago-Southland Representatives on Dominion Executive Committee 1950-1973.
Bibliography
'Young Farmers' Clubs: The Dominion Federation', from An Encyclopaedia of New Zealand, edited by A. H. McLintock, originally published in 1966.
http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/1966/farmers-organisations/page-2 (accessed 13 Feb 2019)
http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/1966/farmers-organisations/page-2 (accessed 13 Feb 2019)
Bibliography
Willie Smith and Steven Kelly, 'Farmer and grower organisations - Young farmers', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand
http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/farmer-and-grower-organisations/page-6 (accessed 13 February 2019)
http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/farmer-and-grower-organisations/page-6 (accessed 13 February 2019)
- Title
- Western Southland District Young Farmers Club
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Invercargill City Libraries and Archives Repository
