YOUNG FARMERS have benefited from a new ambassador programme aimed at strengthening ties between the Scottish Association of Young Farmers Clubs and the Royal Highland Education Trust.

Last summer, SAYFC members were given the opportunity to become ambassadors as part of a collaboration between SAYFC and RHET, which offered 12 members the opportunity to sit on regional RHET committees.

Members have had the opportunity to attend committee meetings, volunteer at events and offer novel fund-raising ideas to help raise the profile of RHET in their local communities and in turn the ambassadors have offered a youth perspective on regional activities.

The 12 new ambassadors appointed include – Lucy Wilson, for RHET Fife; Beth Douglas, RHET Highland; Joanne Hall, RHET Clyde; Eilish Johnson, RHET Borders; Abby Forsyth and Meghan Carson, RHET Dumfries and Galloway; Lois Scott, RHET Angus; Kathryn Dick, RHET Forth Valley; Eve Newlands, RNCI; Jess Brown, RHET Perth and Kinross; Caitlin Ross, RHET Dumbarton, Lomond and Renfrew and Christina Smith, RHET Lothians.

Lucy Wilson is an active member of Bell Baxter ADS and lives on a mixed dairy, beef and sheep farm. Leaving school in May, she is currently on a year out before studying in Edinburgh this September.

"I applied (for the ambassador programme) because I think it is important for the upcoming generation to understand how farming works and where their food actually comes from. I hope to gain valuable experience."

Lothians YF Ambassador Christina Smith comes from a dairy farm near Campbeltown and applied to the programme due to her interest in promoting the agricultural industry to the next generation. "I think that RHET plays a crucial role in educating young people about where their food comes from," she said. "I hope to meet people within the industry who share similar goals and try to work together towards Sustainable British Farming."

South Lanarkshire-based Joanne Hall, graduated from Glasgow School of Art as an Architectural Assistant in June 2021 and has already put her skills to use in her local RHET Clyde branch, designing a poster to encourage primary six pupils to enter a milk bottle competition.

Read more: Young Farmers look to the industry's future

"I applied to be an ambassador as I recognise the importance of RHET’s ambition to educate the younger generation! To create a more sustainable and healthier population we must have a deeper connection of where our food comes from and how it gets into our plate! I wanted to be part of RHET’s work and help them achieve this goal."

Primary school teacher Lois Scott grew up on her family's beef farm in Angus and applied for the programme as she felt many children were lacking in knowledge about where their food comes from and farming in general. "As a primary teacher, I think the work RHET does to support learning is crucial," she said.

Eve Newlands grew up in Morayshire on the family upland beef and sheep farm near Forres and is currently in her second year of dentistry at the University of Dundee.

"I would say that after being asked to join the Royal Northern Countryside Initiative I thought that being a Young Farmers Ambassador would be a good opportunity to voice younger peoples' opinions and give views from the perspective of people entering the agricultural industry and the people who are the future of farming. It is also a great chance to tie young farmers in with the work that RHET does and involve them more in the educational side of agriculture and the rural sector."