SAYFC North Region recently held ‘Ready Steady Country Cooks’ as part of their Grampian eliminations. The competition was sponsored by Hattoncrook Farm Deli and judged by Emma Cowie.

Teams consisted of members from Lower Speyside, Vale of Alford, and Strichen Young Farmers.

The Scottish Farmer: Second team Lower Speyside - left to right: Rhona Rhind, Maria Rhind, judge Emma Cowie, north chair Sally Mair Second team Lower Speyside - left to right: Rhona Rhind, Maria Rhind, judge Emma Cowie, north chair Sally Mair

Each team was presented with a bag of mystery ingredients that needed to be incorporated into the final dish. The bag of mystery ingredients included pineapple, rice, courgette, and most importantly 150g of diced lamb, in keeping with the competition's St. Andrews Day theme.

Sally Mair, north chair, touched on the competition’s success; “Grampian Country Cooks was a great success once again. Following the St Andrews Day theme and supporting Scottish Sheep Farmers, this year we had lamb as our main ingredient. Wishing both our North teams the best of luck at the National finals in February”

The Scottish Farmer: Third team Strichen – left to right: Kirsten Craig, Isobel Short, judge Emma Cowie, north chair Sally Mair Third team Strichen – left to right: Kirsten Craig, Isobel Short, judge Emma Cowie, north chair Sally Mair

Overall, the winners included Alexandra Greig and Jack Grieg from Vale of Alford YF having wowed the judges with their lamb kebab scoring 92/100 points.

Following on in second was Lower Speyside YF with Maria and Rhona Rhind scoring 83.5/100 and third went to Strichen YF, Kirsten Craig, and Isobel Short with 79/100 points.