A YOUNG farmers club has welcomed a new county chair. 

Jordan Edyvean, who was the county vice-chair of Cornwall YFC, has taken over as county chair from Thomas Retallick, who has held the post for the past year. 

Jordan, 24, was welcomed into the role at the club's annual harvest festival, held at at St Gomonda C of E Church, Fore Street, Roche, near St Austell, on Friday September 29.

Jordan is a member of Roche YFC and served as its chair for two years from 2019 to 2021.

He has grown up with close links to Cornwall YFC - his mother met his father when they were both members. His mother held the post of club treasurer for almost 20 years. And Jordan became an associate member at just seven years old. 

“I like to think that I am proof that you don’t necessarily have to have anything to do with farming to be in young farmers," he said.

"I come from a farming background, but Cornwall YFC is open to all, and I have a job that is nothing to do with agriculture.”

Jordan hopes to encourage more people to join Cornwall YFC during his time as chair, to help make up for those members who left the club during the Covid pandemic. He said the fact members could not meet during lockdown meant some got out of the habit and never came back.

He believes Cornwall YFC has a major role to play in helping educate those not from farming backgrounds about the importance of food production and where their food came from. And he stressed the value of YFC membership in helping young people to learn vital life skills.

The harvest festival was held at Jordan's local church, with the support of NFU Mutual, which sponsors Cornwall YFC.

Paul Hawkins, agent at NFU Mutual’s Truro office, who attended the service, said: “We were pleased to be invited to attend the Cornwall YFC Harvest Festival, it was fantastic to see all the clubs coming together for this event and we are proud to continue to support the Cornwall YFCs."