The winner of the Rural Youth Project of 2011 competition is Young Farmers' Clubs of Ulster (YFCU) with their project titled "How fit is your tractor?". The runners-up are Estonian 4H with "We do, because we care – seniors outside" and Austrian Rural Youth with "Together in a good cause".

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How fit is your tractor?

Kesh Young Farmers Club in Northern Ireland are the winning project in 2011 with their innovative competition called “How fit is your Tractor?”. Members of the Kesh Young Farmers’ Club and members of the local community were invited to bring their tractors to the Kesh Marina to enter the “fittest tractor” competition. The judge checked the engine, tyres, and the general condition compared to the age of the tractor with a grand prize awarded to the winner. Other club members also competed against an independent judge to see if they could assess and pick the tractor closest to the judge’s choice. In addition, there was also a junior section for children who came with their toy tractors!

The project had two aims: one was to give members a bit of fun and a chance to show off their tractors, and the other was to support a local charity from the proceeds raised. Club members chose to give the proceeds to the Walker Family who have young child suffering from a brain tumour.

The judging panel were very impressed with the projects submitted. In addition to the projects from Young Farmers' Clubs of Ulster, Estonian 4H and Austrian Rural Youth, we received the following entries:

• KLUB 1, Danish Young Farmers
• Drama thieves, Finnish 4H
• International Summer Weekend, Finnish 4H
• Ha Ha, Latvian 4H
• Cofio'r Epynt, Wales Young Farmers' Club

The judging panel was made of the following Rural Youth Europe members:

• Michael Schwab, Chairman
• Lukas Helfenstein, Board member for Central Europe
• Michal Wojtkowiak, Board member for Eastern Europe
• Ulrica Berglöf, Board member for Scandinavia
• Amanda Hajnal, Secretary General

Ratings were given to each project according to the following criteria:

• Innovativeness and creativity (10 points)
• Benefit to the organisation and its members (10 points)
• Benefit to the local community (10 points)
• Involvement of young people as volunteers (10 points)

Kesh YFC from Northern Ireland will be presented with the Rural Youth travelling trophy at the next Rally in Poland. Two members from the winning team will be invited to the Rally to be awarded the trophy. A feature article in the Spring Edition of Rural Youth Info magazine about the winning projects will also be made.