THIS year Usk and District Young Farmers’ Club celebrates its 90th anniversary.

Thought to be the oldest club in Wales and third oldest in the country, the club has a rich history. Like many of the early YFCs, it began life as a calf rearing club, thanks to Mr DL Jones, a friend of Captain Drew who had established the first club in Devon.

Under his auspices, the mid-Monmouthshire club started to meet in the winter of 1929/30 at what was then the Monmouthshire Institute of Agriculture, Usk, now part of Coleg Gwent, where the club still meets today.

In those early days, the club received great support from the local NFU and the college principal and many of the first members were past and present college students - with Beatrice Jones of Coedybrain Farm, Usk acting as the club’s first secretary and Roy Aplin first chairman.

The club bought its first calves in 1931 and held its first dance at Usk Town Hall that December. Nowadays the building houses the British Legion Club where in recent years a dance has been held after Usk Show.

The club’s first president was elected in 1943 as Usk College’s Principal Purvis, by which time membership had grown to 42 and the club was meeting fortnightly.

In the latter part of the 1940s and into the 50s, however, membership dwindled and at one point there were plans to amalgamate with Llangwm and Llansoy YFC. But eventually the membership situation improved and regular meetings resumed.

The first female member from Wales to participate in a YFC exchange was from Usk. In 1949 Isobel Williams (Arthur), who was club leader at the time, travelled to the USA by boat with members from across the country. The visit was hosted by 4-H, a network of youth organisations which was then focused on farming but is now geared towards citizenship, healthy living, science, engineering, and technology.

By the late 50s Usk members were becoming more successful in competitions like public speaking and by the 60s many members were representing the county at the Royal Welsh Show.

The club was a regular winner of the JO Cullimore farm management competition and the seven-a-side rugby cup. It also won the ’efficiency with safety’ competition at the Royal Show in 1965.

Usk has a strong public speaking track record, winning the Wales level debating competition in 1973. The club also won the mobile display competition at the rally and Royal Welsh in 1982 and 1983.

The 90s and 2000s were particularly strong for the club’s efficiency with safety competitors, with teams winning at Wales level for five consecutive years (1998 to 2002). In 2002, the team of Charlie Andrews, Mark Williams, Edward Williams and Russell Morgan triumphed in the national competition at the Royal Show.

2005 saw Charlie Andrews achieve the highest marks in the first aid element of the efficiency with safety competition at Wales field day. And strength in the competition continues, with Tim Williams and Fraser Kirby on the county team this year which came second in Wales.

2007 saw Mark Williams elected as Wales YFC chairman and go on to be vice-chair of the national federation. In 2010 Kay Morgan was elected as Wales YFC’s activities and international chairman.

Susie Jones was lady ambassador of the Royal Welsh Show in 2002 - and the show was another highlight for the club in 2015, with Owain Williams addressing the crowds at the opening ceremony in the year David Morgan, past club president, was show president.

The club has also provided many county officers - 13 county chairmen including current incumbent Laura Baker, four county presidents and a county organiser - Sarah Davies.

This year alone the club won prize cards at the county stock judging day while both junior senior teams won at the public speaking competition. Usk also won the county entertainments competition and came second at field day.

Ninety years on, the club remains one of the strongest in the county, winning champion club just last year. It currently meets weekly and has 50 members.

If you’d like to join the anniversary celebrations on Saturday 24th August at Usk Showground please call secretary Millie Colley on 07590 226760.