Randalstown YFC announced 'Club Of The Year'

The Young Farmers’ Clubs of Ulster (YFCU) run numerous competitions throughout the year, and one that is highly regarded as the most competitive is the prestigious ‘Club Of The Year’, proudly associated with long standing partners Power NI. This award recognises excellence across all aspects of club life, celebrating those who demonstrate outstanding commitment, organisation, and impact.

The competition finished on Saturday 25^th April 2026 at the YFCU AGM which was held at the Silverbirch Hotel in Omagh. The five clubs that made it through to the final this year were Randalstown YFC, Garvagh YFC, Moycraig YFC, Collone YFC and Curragh YFC, and each club had to give a short presentation to a panel of judges on why they should be awarded the Club of the Year. Sitting on the panel were, Harry Crosby (YFCU Honorary Treasurer), Caragh O’Neill (Power NI) and Eamon Duignan (Lakeland Dairies).

Hundreds of YFCU members sat patiently waiting for the winners to be announced, and it was Randalstown YFC that the judges felt met the competition’s rigorous criteria and were awarded the Ann Cameron cup for 2026 winners of the competition. Caragh O’Neill, Marketing Executive for Power NI commented, “Randalstown YFC really stood out on the day. Their presentation was engaging, confident and very well thought‑through, but what impressed me most was how clearly they demonstrated the work happening behind the scenes. They went one step beyond simply outlining activities; they showed how they consistently go the extra mile as a club, from strong member involvement and community engagement through to forward‑thinking initiatives and teamwork. Their sustainability pledge was particularly impressive. They clearly demonstrated a genuine commitment to becoming more sustainable, not just in principle but through real actions and long‑term changes within the club. The passion and pride they have in their club really came across, and it was clear that everyone plays a part. Their strong approach to sustainability alongside that energy and ambition is exactly what we’re proud to see as sponsor of the Club of the Year, and it made Randalstown very deserving winners”.

The club were represented by seven members on the day who were beaming with excitement when collecting the prize. They were, Georgia Nicholl (Club Leader), Rachel McNeilly (Club Treasurer), Erin Crawford (Secretary), Leanne Nicholl (Public Relations Officer), and Assistant Club Officials Tom Walker, Eva Walker and Aaron McNeilly.

Speaking to Club Secretary Erin Crawford, she explained that getting to the final stage of the competition was not an easy journey. “Each stage of the competition brought new challenges and pushed us further as a club. We spent a lot of time planning and supporting one another. I was so nervous every time I seen an email from headquarters come through to my inbox regarding the next stage of the competition, but was relieved when I seen our name appearing each time, it really kept the momentum going”. Erin explained that the competition was about making a positive impact on their local community in County Antrim, and building connections with other groups in the area. She said, “teamwork was at the heart of everything we did. We had many a late night, plenty of problem-solving and there were a lot of laughs along the way too. Taking part in the competition strengthened us as a club, and being announced as the winners at the AGM just made all the hard work worth it”.

“Hearing our name being called out as the winners, it really was one of those moments that you can’t put into words. Each club that made it to the final were outstanding, which made the competition so close. We were over the moon, it was quite emotional for some of us too because we put our hearts and souls into it. We are a massive family at Randalstown YFC, and winning the club of the year competition is something we will never forget”, Erin explained.

Kristina Fleming, recently elected President of the Young Farmers’ Clubs of Ulster, congratulated all of the clubs for reaching the final, commenting, “Massive congratulations to Randalstown YFC on winning the Club of the Year competition. It’s not just a title, it’s a reflection of passion, dedication, and a team that never settles for average. The award belongs to every member who showed up, stepped up, and believed in something bigger than themselves”.