The Cultivating Young Leaders programme is running for its second year in 2025. This exciting and unique leadership programme is designed to empower and educate YFCU members aged between 18 and 30. Having been modelled on the highly successful programme run by the Scottish Association of Young Farmers Clubs, this opportunity is aimed at helping young farmers with farm succession, career development and daily life. It marks a significant milestone in our commitment to the growth and development of our 3,500+ members.

Heather Wildman
(Programme Leader)

Heather Wildman successfully led the programme in 2024 and 2025. Brought up on a family sheep and beef farm in the Lake District, England, Heather now lives in Scotland but works throughout the UK and overseas.

Using her entrepreneurial skills to build her business, she offers a fun and unique approach combined with an ability to keep up with industry challenges. Heather provides a comprehensive network of industry contacts, from political to grassroots level and has a reputation for helping individuals to collaborate with others to achieve stronger impressions and long lasting results.

This programme is kindly supported by The Thomas Henry Foundation, which was established in 1847 under the terms of the will of Thomas Henry, a merchant in Downpatrick. The principal objective of the Foundation is to promote agricultural science, innovation and good farming practice in Northern Ireland.

APPLICATIONS OPENING SUMMER 2026

Leadership

Participants will identify leadership characteristics, evaluate their leadership potential and immerse in leadership training during a farm visit.

Critical Thinking

Participants will take part in effective succession planning and prepare for challenging conversations, while mapping their aspirations.

Finance

Participants will have the opportunity to cover some financial planning, navigate cash flows and look at accounts, budgets and market dynamics.

Practical Experience

Participants will gain hands on practice when completing a farm business tenancy application, craft a bank loan application and develop business plans.

Programme Facilitators

Rodney Brown

Head of Agri-Business

at Danske Bank

Peter Brown

Solicitor at Martin King French & Ingram LLP

Michael Barnett

Fellow Chartered Accountant at McAleer Jackson

Roberta Armstrong

Board Representative

at Ulster Farmers' Union

Session Dates

Session 1

To Be Announced

Session 2

To Be Announced

Session 3

To Be Announced

Session 4

To Be Announced

Participants will be required to pay a holding deposit of £100.00. Once the programme has been successfully completed and all sessions attended, the deposit will be refunded.

Terms & Conditions

Participants must be fully paid members of the Young Farmers' Clubs of Ulster and be aged between 18 and 30 at the time of applying. Participants must also be able to attend all four sessions listed above.

Heather Wildman (Programme Leader)