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James Speers has been elected as president of the Young Farmers’ Clubs of Ulster (YFCU) at the organisation’s AGM in Armagh.
The local beef and sheep farmer also works for Grassland Agro and replaces outgoing president Roberta Simmons for a two-year term. Speers was deputy president for the past two years and was therefore elected president as a formality at the AGM on Saturday.
Taking his place as deputy president was Zita Blair from Moneymore YFC. Blair was also elected unopposed as she was the only one of the existing four vice presidents who went forward for the role of deputy.
There was a competitive election for the positions of vice-president, with five names put forward for the four positions. William Beattie, David Oliver, Harry Crosby and Peter Alexander were elected in the end.
Strong voice
Speaking to the Irish Farmers Journal, Speers said young farmers need a strong voice in the industry as Brexit negotiations begin.
The 3,000-member organisation has been consulting its members as part of ongoing work to develop a position on various Brexit issues, including future UK domestic agricultural policy.
“We are focused on working in collaboration with the entire industry to get the best outcome for agriculture in Northern Ireland,” Speers said.
Listen to an interview with James Speers below:
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