Rodway Young Farmers have presented Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance with a donation of £750 raised from last year's 'Grass to Maize' event.

The 24 hour sponsored event involves hauling 35 acres of grass silage on Rodway Farm and then carrying out cultivations on the land to prepare it for planting maize. This is then harvested during the following autumn by agriculture students from Bridgwater and Taunton College.

Both the grass silage and maize silage cultivated by the students each year is used on the farm to feed the dairy cows and the sheep. The students’ participation is key to the successful production of top quality forage which in turn produces top quality livestock.

Last year’s event raised £1,500 for charity which was split between Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance and Teenage Cancer Trust.

The young farmers are now gearing up for this year’s event which, weather dependent, will take place during the week commencing 30 April 30 or May 7.

This year the money raised will be donated to Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance and The Farming Community Network, a charity that supports farmers and families within the farming community through difficult times.

The main aim is to raise £2,500 for the air ambulance towards the cost of one of the helicopter’s missions, and then all other proceeds will go to the Farming Community Network. The Rodway Young Farmers will set up a Facebook go fund me page and will also have sponsorship forms for offline fundraising.

The Rodway Young Farmers have already been in contact with many tractor and machinery dealers who have agreed to loan demonstration machines for the event free of charge.

If you would like to offer any donations and offers of publicity for the event, email Emma Tobin at tobine@btc.ac.uk.