LAST month saw SAYFC hold their National Competitions Weekend in Carlisle.

This weekend brings Young Farmers together from across Scotland to compete, catch up and interact with members from other clubs, districts, and regions.

“The National Competitions Weekend is a highlight in the SAYFC calendar as it brings members from all over Scotland together to compete, socialise and make new friends. The weekend is also the start of an exciting journey for many as the International and Agri and Rural Affairs tour interviews take place. The Competitions and Events committee rotate the location of the weekend every year and Carlisle was selected this time due to its brilliant set up, where all the venues we require are close together in the town centre," explained SAYFC national chair, Lucy Mitchell.

The weekend’s competitions began with National Senior Speechmaking, which saw six teams compete in a hotly contested morning of presentation and debate. The standard was high, and the judges had a tough task differentiating between the top competitors. In the end it was the team from Kilmaurs Young Farmers consisting of Cara Gilbert, Karen Shepherd, Emma Shanks and Nicole Crawley who came out on top on the day with Karen picking up the prize for the best Individual speaker.

Not only do the winners receive the national title and trophy they also have won the chance to travel to Canada later this year to compete in the ‘Canadian Young Speakers for Agriculture Competition’. This is the second year that SAYFC have been invited to take part and we want to thank the Competition for providing our members with such a fantastic opportunity.

The runners up in the speechmaking competition were the Aberfeldy team of Jillian Kennedy, Kit Marshall, Nick Hutchon and Anna McDiarmid who scored just above James Hamilton, Lucy Fleming, Jane Fleming and Ann Fleming of Avondale who secured third place.

The national senior quiz saw the the wit and knowledge of SAYFC’s keenest minds were put to the test. The teams were up to the challenge and after 10 rounds quality quizzing it was Scott Anderson, Fraser Graham, Fiona Cuthbertson and Callum Steel of Crossroads YFC who scored highest, claiming the trophy. Behind them we had the team from Ayr YFC featuring Hazel McHarg, Stuart Limond, Scott Limond and Laura Purdie and in third place were the team from Vale of Alford JAC, Sally Glennie, Isla Glennie, Angela Webster and Ellen Glennie.

In what was a packed day of competition we also ran our national bowling competition, with 15 teams taking to the lanes. Mauchline YFC secured top spot. Second place went to East Kilbride YFC and Crossroads YFC came in third. The top bowler on the day was David Howat of Mauchline.

11 teams ran out to play in the national 5-aside foortball, and after a busy and bruising morning of competition the top three was as follows; in first place the Kilmaurs YFC side of Andrew Nisbet, Glen Smith, Jack Reid, Kyle Kirkland and Jamie Clark; in second place were the squad from Carluke YFC featuring Douglas Frame, Thomas Young, Alan Bankier, Andrew Jackson, Sam Davidson and Khai Robertson; and coming in third were Mauchline YFC, Robert Clark, David Howat, Alistair Middleton, Kyle Lamont, Craig Meikle, Jordan Bell and Kerr Sloan.

The most prestigious and hard-fought competition of the weekend was to decide our National Member of the Year 2022/23. Held on Saturday, the contest saw competitors from districts across Scotland gather for their final interviews. These competitors were: West Region – Scott Anderson, Ayrshire; Murray Steel, Clyde and Central; Elspeth Purdie, Dumfries and Galloway; Skye Watson, Lanarkshire.

East Region – Lois Scott, Angus Tayside; Courtney Bell, Border Federation; Gavin Adam, Fife and Kinross; Emma Gray, Lothian and Peebles; Beth Alexander, Perthshire.

North Region – John Forbes, Caithness; Ellen Glennie, West Aberdeenshire; Claire Black, East Aberdeenshire.

In the interviews, competitors were assessed on their contributions and involvement in SAYFC from Club to National level over the last year and how they presented themselves to the judges. It is always a difficult task to choose a winner from the cream of the crop of SAYFC’s membership and this year’s competition was no different. But eventually after much deliberation the judges settled on their final three. The results were announced that evening, at the Member of the Year Dance, with Skye Watson of Biggar YFC lifting the top award.

As current secretary of her club, vice chair of the National Development and Wellbeing Committee and winner of West Miss Young Farmer, Skye impressed the judges with her involvement and enthusiasm for the association.

Speaking on her achievement Skye said: “I’m still very overwhelmed and on cloud nine. I’m absolutely honoured to be National Member of the Year 2023; I really look forward to being part of the development of SAYFC in the coming year and beyond! Where would we be without SAYFC?!”

In second place was Scott Anderson of Crossroads YFC. Scott has had a year of successes with Young Farmers, being crowned West Mister Young Farmer and winning Best Speaker as one of the first overseas competitors in the ‘Canadian Young Speakers Competition’. Runner up in Member of the Year is just another achievement to add to that list.

Finally in third place was Lois Scott of Forfar JAC. Lois is heavily involved with SAYFC with roles as club secretary, assistant secretary for Angus Tayside District and as a member of the National Comms and Marketing Committee. She impressed the judges with her well-presented interview and notable commitment to her roles from Club to National.