Oldest YFC couple in England reminisce on love of farming

Believed to be the oldest couple in England with ties to the Young Farmers’ Club (YFC) movement, Ivan and Rosemary Goff, aged 96 and 90 respectively, have shared their fond memories and love of farming.

In an interview recorded by their son Andrew, Ivan and Rosemary tell how they first became members of their local YFC and how this sparked their love of farming – and each other.

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The pair were born and raised in Devon, in the Culm Valley, near Tiverton, where they farmed for many years and became key members of the local YFC.

Ivan was invited to join Culm Valley YFC in 1946 and Rosemary followed suit a year later, at the age of 13.

The YFC has a rich history in the area, first opening its doors in 1921 in Hemyock, Devon, where the United Dairies milk factory set the children of local milk producers the task of calf rearing.

They held competitions and prizes for those achieving the highest standards.

Over the next decade, more clubs opened providing education, with a focus on growing crops, calves, pigs, poultry, and keeping bees and gardens.

Ever the keen participants, Ivan and Rosemary regularly won awards for their farming skills.

Ivan recalls that one of his proudest memories was “coming first in the ploughing”, winning the YFC ploughing competition at the age of 22 – though he admits that he was often outshone by Rosemary when it came to winning silverware.

Rosemary won a host of YFC competitions for her livestock handling, and was allowed to keep the cup for Best Young Farmer after winning it for three years in a row.

At one point, the couple owned a collection of around 20 cups for their farming achievements.

She donated one of her collection, named the Flay Cup, in honour of her maiden name, to Honiton Agricultural Show, and it is still awarded annually to the best calf rearer.

(Left to right) Rosemary’s father Jim Flay, Rosemary and Ivan Goff

Wartime farming

Looking through old pictures with his parents, Andrew said “there was one photo that made Dad cry”.

Ivan had not gone to war because he was the only son on a farm. At the time, he was 17 years old, and saw lots of his friends conscripted to join the war effort – many of whom never made it home.

“On my Dad’s farm, they had a prisoner of war, named Paul, who came to work on the farm,” explains Andrew.

“Dad just welled up when he saw this one photo, and explained that in the picture was himself and Paul, who lived with them for two years.

“They kept in contact after the war finished, and Paul died about four years ago. Dad had gone out to Germany to visit Paul and his wife Liesel in Dusseldorf.

“Imagine hearing about your friends that are leaving their farms, going to war, and not coming back, yet being able to accommodate this human being and give him respect and look after him on your farm.

“He became a lifelong friend, and that is something immensely stoic, to show such forgiveness and bring a friendship out of the war.”

A love for Land Rover

Like many farming families, Ivan and Rosemary had a beloved Land Rover, which Andrew managed to track down 10 years ago. He took his parents for a surprise visit.

“The owner took Mum and Dad for a drive – it was magical. Dad stood beside the bonnet and said, ‘I put that dent there taking milk burns to the milk factory in ‘66’.

“It had been a very bad snowy winter. Dad had ferried local farmers’ milk to market.”

Ivan Goff © Goff family

Advice for young farmers

Today, despite Ivan’s failing health, the Goffs continue to be inseparable, spending most days together at Lady Forester Nursing Home in Much Wenlock, in Shropshire, where they are close to Andrew. 

Giving advice to the next generation of young farmers, Ivan says to “spend wisely” with an eye to the future, and to “enjoy your time in YFC”.