The Hampshire Federation of Young Farmers' Clubs' 56th AGM took place at Sparsholt College on Monday.

Guest speaker was the broadcaster, Peter White, who has been blind from birth. He gave a very entertaining and humorous talk about various experiences from his life. A vote of thanks was given by Anna Foote (Alresford YFC).

Bill Welling, county president, presided and was re-elected, as were all the vice-presidents.

County chairman, Suzy Goring, presented the annual report for a year that had seen agriculture make a faltering recovery after the horrors of 2001.

Teasurer, Barbara Scriven, was presented with a gift on her retirement after 17 years. She reported that although the foot and mouth crisis had hit the federation early in the year, they had still made a small surplus over the year.

Deputy Mayor of Test Valley, Cllr Pat West, presented the annual awards.

Alresford took the Junior and Senior Show Trophy; The Edwin Watts Sports Cup; The Annettes Cup for Junior Club Exhibit and the Smail & Gray Challenge Trophy for best club scrapbook. Alresford member, Stephen Parfoot-Gray, also took the Vitovis Cup.

The Bignell Cup was won by Luke Holder, from Beaulieu YFC and The Coach House Nurseries Cup was won by Luke Holder and Stephen Abraham. Beaulieu also took the WI Cup for Rural Pursuits.

Petersfield won the Jermyns Cup and the Robert Wainwright Cup for best club programme. Their spokesman, Richard Ashcroft, won the Lynton White Cup for best club chairman.

The Robert Moore Memorial Cop was won by Laura Bennett, of Avon Valley and the Trickett Cup by Alex Graham and Alan Hooley, of Winchester YFC.

South East Hants YFC won the Basingstoke Show Society Challenge Cup for the Senior Club Exhibit.

Awards were also given to Rachael Feherenbach, for best secretary and Vicky Sturgess for best treasurer, both from South East Hants YFC.

The county president thanked all supporters and sponsors who enabled the Hampshire Federation to survive over the last year. He then closed the meeting, after which guests and members were served a ploughmans supper.