THIS FEBRUARY and March, school pupils will have the opportunity to 'Ask A Farmer' during a special live Question and Answer session being organised by the Royal Highland Education Trust.


As part of the organisation's ongoing 'Year of Beef' activities, which have been running since September, school pupils will be able to put their questions to farmers the length and breadth of Scotland during the week commencing February 28.


Close to 30 farmers have made themselves available for the virtual event and are looking forward to taking questions from pupils who have been learning lots about beef farming over the past five months.


A well-known face to many and RHASS chairman designate, Jim Warnock of Gartfinnan Farm who farms sheep and beef, has offered his time to the event: "I am passionate about producing good quality Scottish food, and like to encourage young people to take an interest in what they eat and how it is produced," he said.


As well as hearing from beef and sheep farmers, pupils will hear from dairy farmers like Holly Wilson from Crocketford House in Dumfries and Galloway, arable farmers like Robert Neill of Upper Nisbet Jedburgh, pig farmers such as James Wyllie of Ruchlkaw Mains, Dunbar and even get an insight in to agritourism from David and Chris Scott-Park who run a beef farm on Loch Lomond alongside holiday accommodation and boating activities. 

 

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RHET Fife co-ordinator, Carole Brunton, who is one of the main drivers behind the year of beef activity, added: “Current Covid restrictions means on site farm visits are not possible in many areas, so in order to bring the outdoors inside, RHET are excited to offer a unique opportunity for learners to engage in a live Q&A session with Scottish farmers the length of the country.”

Looking ahead to the spring and summer, she explained that there are a whole host of activities pupils can look forward to: "Over the Spring, we will be working with the Royal Dick Vet, SRUC and several Scottish Borders beef farmers to produce a resource to demonstrate to school children how farmers care for their cows and how they are looked after on farm and beyond.

"We will also be working with QMS to run a teacher training course covering cooking in the classroom, which will be free, and open to all primary teachers in Scotland," she continued.

"The highlight of the year, in May, will be the launching of an interactive resource enabling students to explore farming landscapes and find out more about the many aspects of sustainable food production in Scotland."

The Year of Beef activities will culminate with a celebration at the Royal Highland Show this June, where RHET will announce various competition results and see how Cameron Harrison from Littleinch, Balmerino, Fife gets on in the show ring.

In the weeks leading up to the Royal Highland Show, RHET will be following Cameron as he prepares his calf for both Fife Show and the Highland.

School pupils are encouraged to get their creative thinking caps on for two competition being launched by RHET in the weeks ahead. The first competition encourages pupils to design the rosette that will be presented to the champion beef animal at the Royal Highland Show and the second competition asks the pupils to use their poetry skills to create an acrostic poem entitled 'Scottish Farmer'. More details will be released soon.