Young Farmers' Clubs Of Ulster
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 16 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 has agreed to lead the 2025 programme. 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.
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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.
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
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Rodney Brown
Head of Agri-Business
at Danske Bank
Peter Brown
Solicitor at Martin King French & Ingram LLP
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Michael Barnett
Fellow Chartered Accountant at McAleer Jackson
Roberta Armstrong
Board Representative
at Ulster Farmers' Union
Session Dates
Session 1
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Saturday 18th and Sunday 19th January 2025 (Walsh's Hotel, Maghera)
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Session 2
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Saturday 1st and Sunday 2nd March 2025 (Walsh's Hotel, Maghera)
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Session 3
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Saturday 29th March 2025 (Farm Visit, Venue TBC)
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Session 4
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Saturday 12th April 2025 (AGM, Armagh City Hotel)
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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.
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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 (six days) listed above.
