The Junior Farmers movement was started as a voluntary movement under the auspices of the Education Dept in the mid 1930's. By 1939 there were some 43 clubs throughout the state. During the war many of the clubs went into recess, but were revived again in the decade following the war. The Junior Farmer Movement Act of 1955 was proclaimed in 1957. Under this Act the Council for the Advancement of the Junior Farmers Movement was formed to be responsible to the Minister for Education. The Junior Farmers Movement Council changed its name to the Rural Youth Movement Council from 1 January 1975 following a similar change of name for the enabling legislation.

(For records of the Junior Farmers Movement prior to 1956, please refer to the Battye Library of Western Australian History, Private Archives Collection, Accession 1234A).

Formerly the Junior Farmers Movement Council, the name change occurred circa 1 January 1975. The Council became an incorporated body, the Rural Youth Federation of WA (Inc) in 1986.