Although claims have been made over the years that one of the first clubs was established at Clynderwen over 90 years ago, it is on record that the first Young Farmers’ Club opened in 1921 in Hemyock, Devon, where the United Dairies milk factory set children of the area’s milk producers the task of calf rearing, with competitions and prizes for those achieving the highest standards.

Over the next decade, more clubs opened to provide agricultural education, with the focus on the keeping of growing and living things including calves, pigs, poultry, bees and gardens.

After the death of one of YFC’s original founders and greatest inspirations, Lord Northcliffe, in 1922, the Ministry of Agriculture took on development of the organisation. But within six years, it was proving difficult for it to offer the type of help needed by the members to organise some 50 clubs or offer guidance on the rural social role Young Farmers’ Clubs were assuming.

In 1929, the National Council for Social Services (NCSS) stepped in with the goal of developing YFC as a voluntary, self-governing and self-generating organisation.

The Young Farmers Clubs movement in Wales is said to date from about this time. By 1943 - when the first County Rally was held at Slebech - there were eight clubs in the Federation but, by 1949, there were 25 clubs with a total membership of 1,300 in the county.

In those days, fuel rationing meant that motor transport was minimal and it was either walk or cycle to the local club in the village. Times have moved on since then and no one could be more aware of this than the Thorne family, of Steynton, whose association with the movement spans well over 50 years.

George Thorne - whose father, Walter, was county president for five years from 1958 - was county chairman in 1972 and his wife, Ionwy (nee Thomas), held the same office in 1977.

A true example of the YFC being a marriage bureau saw George and Ionwy marry and now their daughter, Non, 29, has taken on the role again and is already proving to be a very able leader.

Welsh speaking Non attended Ysgol Glancleddau Primary School at Haverfordwest and then Preseli Secondary not missing a single day in 13 years ‘being very fortunate enjoying good health’ - her mother reminds her.

Non graduated from Aberystwyth University with a degree in agriculture and business studies and has for the last five years worked for Pentagon Associates, of Narberth, as one of a strong team of business advisors.

She also maintains the family tradition of breeding and showing pedigree polled Hereford cattle and retains the Studdolph prefix registered by her grandfather in 1945. Her parents cattle are bred under the Glenvale or Ashdale prefixes.

Next on the agenda for Non is - after weeks of training - bravely cycling, with 24 others, to the YFC’s national convention in Blackpool at the end of this month raising money for three charities: the Wales Air Ambulance, Prostate Cymru and the County Federation.

Asked how do you describe yourself, Non says: “I’m a keen Young Farmer and have had some brilliant experiences both locally and nationally through the movement and socialising, cooking and looking after my Welsh terrier, Trev, are only a few of my many hobbies.”