Advanced ticket sales to The National Federation of Young Farmers’ Clubs’ (NFYFC) Annual Convention in Blackpool are the highest recorded in the last decade, and organisers are anticipating a record number of young farmers to flock to the seaside town this May.

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More than 5,700 tickets have already been sold to the annual event, which will be held at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool from 4-6 May for the 24th time, and organisers are predicting more sales on the doors over the weekend. Tickets are no longer available to be purchased in advance and members can now only buy a wristband on the door during registration times at the Winter Gardens.

A record number of YFC members attended the Convention in Blackpool in 2016 with 6,000 young farmers enjoying a weekend of entertainment, competitions and debate. It is now anticipated that this year’s event will be even bigger after impressive sales of the early-bird packages.

The flagship event has attracted sponsorship from leading industry organisations, including KUHN Farm Machinery UK, Isuzu and Massey Ferguson.

Farming Today presenter and NFYFC President Charlotte Smith will chair the 86th Annual General Meeting during the weekend. Smith will also facilitate at the AGRI Big Ideas Brunch on the Saturday, where three leading entrepreneurs will impart their advice on establishing a successful future career in the industry.

As well as national competition finals for Pantomime performances, Senior Member of the Year, Jump Rope and Disco Dancing, there are also guest DJs entertaining young farmers in the evening.

Weekend highlights include:

• AGRI Big Ideas Brunch, sponsored by Kuhn Farm Machinery, involving guest speakers Rob Boole, qualified agronomist and owner of Boole Crop Specialists, Chris Cardell, successful tenant farmer and Sir John Campbell – founder of Glenrath Farms.
• Chris Stark from BBC Radio 1 will DJ on Saturday night, and rugby union player James Haskell will hit the decks on Sunday night.
• Three live bands will perform including Groovesonix, Ministry and The Tzars.
• National competition finals of NFYFC’s Pantomime (which will be held in the Opera House on Saturday 5 May), Jump Rope, Disco Dancing and Senior Member of the Year will also take place throughout the weekend.

It’s a welcome boost for Blackpool when YFC members stay in the town as it’s estimated that young farmers will contribute £4.3m to the local economy during the weekend.

The increase in numbers of members attending the Convention is also good news for a local charity as a donation from every ticket sale will be given to the North West Air Ambulance.

This year, more than 100 Young Farmers are planning to cycle or walk a combined total of nearly 1,000 miles to get to Blackpool – all in aid of raising money for causes close to their hearts. YFC members from Essex, Leicestershire, Staffordshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Cornwall and Pembrokeshire are all training for their challenges, which should see them raise more than £10,000 for local causes.

NFYFC Chairman of Council Lynsey Martin said: “It’s great that so many YFC members are attending our Annual Convention weekend. It’s the highlight of the YFC calendar and a chance for many of our members, who live and work in isolated rural communities, to unite with friends from across England and Wales.

“The weekend is growing in popularity every year and it’s due to the range of activities on offer for members across the three days. It’s also a chance to acknowledge all of the amazing fundraising work our YFCs do throughout the year to support not only our members but also our rural communities.

“We have built strong working relationships with the police, the local authority and businesses in Blackpool to make sure this year’s event is entertaining and safe for young farmers and local residents. Our members really enjoy visiting Blackpool and all it has to offer.”

The Annual Convention starts at 1pm on Friday 4 May and closes on the evening of Sunday 6 May 2018.