SCHOOL farms and clubs across Kent have been the focus of feverish activity over the past couple of months with youngsters preparing their animals to compete at the County Show.

The Young Farmers' Clubs competitions are among the most keenly anticipated and contested in the whole Show.

Members of the YFC at the Angley School farm in Cranbrook will be looking to make it four wins on the trot in the coveted overall championship for the club with the highest number of points.

Angley farm manager Nick Cooper said: "Last year was exceptional for us as we had quite a young and relatively inexperienced team.

"It is the best Young Farmers' Club livestock show in the country and something the members of all the clubs across the county really look forward to."

Mr Cooper said that although the competition is fierce, winning is not the be all and end all.

"Although it's great to win taking part is also a team-building exercise and gives students from different schools the chance to meet each other and have some fun."

Angley will again face stiff competition from other Kent school farms and Young Farmers' Clubs, including those from Maidstone's Astor of Hever and Oldborough Manor YFCs.

Chris Ely, the Astor of Hever farm technician said: "The show is the highlight of the kids' year. The level of competition and the standard of the livestock is always high.

"Although the show is competitive we are all singing from the same songsheet and the overall goal is to teach youngsters about animals and their welfare.

"You have your good years and not so good years. We are not dependent on success there but it's like a cherry on the top of the cake if you do well."