A NUMBER of local young people are among 40 from across the county who will be travelling to other parts of the world in the coming year.

The Devon Federation of Young Farmers’ Clubs recently held its travel interviews which saw more than 40 members from clubs from across the county apply for 2017 travel scholarships.

The members completed application forms and attended interviews at the Devon Young Farmers’ Centre in Exeter.

Thanks were extended to the interviewers; Marion Cann, Neil Grills, Clare Edworthy, Chris Berry, Faye Heal and Mark Davis who have all previously been members of Devon YFC and travelled on the scholarship programme.

Difficult decisions were made by the judges as to who the places would be awarded to as they said the standard of members was fantastic, making decisions extremely tough.

The juniors who have gained a space on the exchange with Finland were Ben Kittow (Culm Valley YFC), Charlotte Lake (Witheridge YFC), Ben May (Newton St Cyres YFC), Henry Govier (Meshaw YFC), Ellen Abel (Tavistock YFC), Tim Laarveld (Winkleigh YFC), Ellis Sage (Sid and Otter YFC), Lauren Rich (Dartmouth YFC), Jack Broom (Honiton YFC), Keziah Hoskin (Meshaw YFC) with leaders: Laura Stanbury (Withleigh YFC) and Tom Rycroft (Chittlehampton YFC).

The seniors who were successful at gaining a place on the 2017 scholarship and travelling to Slovenia include James Westcott (Culm Valley YFC), Louise Kittow (Withleigh YFC), Laura Grist (Cheriton and Tedburn YFC), John Malseed (Chagford YFC), Ben Warren (Chittlehampton YFC), Olivia Haddy (Kingsbridge YFC), Ryan Colwill (Woolsery YFC), Richard Rossiter (Kingsbridge YFC), Ryan Dobson (Yarcombe YFC), Adam Howe (Culm Valley YFC) and Charles Mill (Bradworthy YFC).

Members travelling alongside them, who previously won their place as winners of the competitions: Senior Member of the Year, John Spear Memorial Award and George Hingston Award, include Alice Giles (Bow YFC), Michelle Batting (Culm Valley YFC), Jack Frankum (Cheriton and Tedburn YFC) and Clifton Ford (Chulmleigh YFC).

Georgina Davie, Devon YFC International Travel chairperson, said: "We are extremely grateful to all those organisations and groups within Young Farmers’ that have sponsored the members spaces, allowing us to run this fantastic programme."

Three members from Devon were awarded places on the National Federation Scholarships after tough competition from across England, with Skype interviews taking place in December.

Congratulations went to Daniel Grist (Cheriton and Tedburn YFC) who will be travelling on the RYE European Rally to Latvia, Kate Palmer (Totnes YFC), who gained a space on Africa’s Gift visit, and Holly Gilbert (Cheriton and Tedburn YFC) who will be off to Argentina.

The Devon YFC Federation is also offering a lucky Devon YFC member the opportunity to travel on the International Farming Youth Exchange trip to the United States of America in 2017, with interviews taking place in January.

For more information about the Devon Young Farmers Federation, visit: www.devonyfc.co.uk .

Alan Quick