AFTER more than 40 years in the same office, the team that supports Yorkshire’s Young Farmers’ clubs has moved to pastures new.

In a historic move, which marks a new era for the organisation, the Yorkshire Federation of Young Farmers’ Clubs (YFYFC) packed its belongings into a cattle trailer on Saturday, February 8 and moved from its old headquarters in Knaresborough.

Just a few miles down the road, the new location in the Regional Agricultural Centre at Harrogate will be well-known to many of the federation’s 1,400 members.

“I don’t think it will take us long to feel at home with the Great Yorkshire Showground as our next door neighbour,” said Georgina Fort, chairman of YFYFC.

“Making a move has been talked about for at least the last 20 years and I’m very proud and excited that it’s actually happening.

“When we got talking to the team at the Yorkshire Agricultural Society it was like a lightbulb going off; it all just made absolute sense for us to be part of the exciting hub of rural organisations that the centre is home to.

“The move will bring the two organisations of the young farmers and the agricultural society, as well as the other rural organisations that are based there, closer together and enable us to collaborate on more projects.

“It will be lovely to have somewhere so modern and eco-friendly for our staff to work in and our members to visit and use for meetings.

“There’s more good news in that it has also made sense financially.”

Nigel Pulling, chief executive of the Yorkshire Agricultural Society, said: “We are absolutely delighted to welcome the Yorkshire YFC to the Regional Agricultural Centre offices.

“It makes sense for this important group - who are an integral part of the future of the industry - to be housed alongside the society; further strengthening our support and the ability to work in partnership.

“We are looking for more rural organisations to join us here as we have office space available.”

For more information about YFYFC, which has 45 clubsin Yorkshire, visit yfyfc.org.uk or phone 01423 546170.