MEMBERS of the Scottish Association of Young Farmers Clubs will soon be jetting off around the world with the confirmation of their international travel places.

This is the first year since travel was interrupted by Covid in 2020 that SAYFC have been able to offer members a full roster of international travel opportunities. International chair Linsey Campbell is excited to have the programme back to full strength,

“I’m so excited for international travel to be back! Some of my best memories and greatest opportunities have stemmed from the experiences SAYFC international travel provided me and I’m looking forward to being able to offer these same opportunities to our membership this year,” she explained.

Members leapt at the opportunity to see the world with SAYFC. Applying in their droves for a chance at getting onto their preferred trips. Each applicant was placed onto a wait list before being interviewed either over zoom or in person at the recent National Competitions Weekend in Carlisle. The interviewers had the tough task of whittling down the candidates into a final travelling group, taking into account their reasoning for applying and what they will do to promote the international programme upon their return. So here are your (initial) International Travellers for 2023.

The lucky group of travellers will be heading to India and Croatia. Head to India are - Nicole Work (Harray); Charlotte Wildman (Lower Nithsdale); Fiona Cuthbertson (Crossroads); Mhairi Hall (Carluke); Gayle Allan (Avondale) ; Mairi MacDonald (Crossroads); Anne Ashworth (East Fife); Eilidh Strawhorn (Crossroads); Nicholas McKissock (Crossroads); Jillian Kennedy (Aberfeldy & District); Emma Shanks (Kilmaurs); Anna McDiarmid (Aberfeldy and District); Joanne Hall (Carluke); Ellen Glennie (Vale of Alford); Beth Douglas (Bower); James Scott (West Renfrewshire).

Heading to Croatia , are – Hazel McHarg (Ayr & District); Jennifer Veitch (Mauchline); Lisa Brown (Crossroads); Aileen McColm (Lower Nithsdale); Gail Pollock (Avondale) ; John Austin (Lower Nithsdale); Robert Ramsey (Stranraer & Rhins); James Gray (Crossroads); Andrew McMillan (Bute); Robert Hendrie (Crossroads); Courtney Bell (Reston); Tara Brisbane (Callander); Emily Black (Callander); Rachel Young (Stewartry); Holly Dickie Moir (Deer and District); Lucy McGillvary (Keith and District).

The successful homestay applicants will be part of an exchange with other rural youth organisations from around the world. They will stay with and be guided around by host families and get a unique perspective on their country, culture and agricultural practices. The (currently confirmed) homestay travellers are: New Zealand – Alison McCall (Kilmaurs). Canada – Andrew Bennie (Bathgate); Ashley Spark (Brechin). Ulster – Aimee Gifford (Shetland). Macra – Holly Veitch (New Cumnock)

A group will also be heading to participate in the Rural Youth Europe Rally in Austria. This annual event brings rural youth from across Europe together for a week of sharing ideas, cultural experience, and socialising. Each year the Rally has a theme which will drive discussion and guide the sessions throughout the week and this year’s theme is ‘Zero Waste, Zero Hunger- Circular Economy to Feed the World’. Our (currently confirmed) Rally Representatives are – Jean Andrew (Beith & District); Jordan Barclay (Strathmore); Sophie Forbes (Nairn); Isla Stewart (West Renfrewshire)

Over Competitions Weekend interviews also ran for the Agri and Rural Affairs Study Tour to Canada. This trip is organised by our Agri and Rural Affairs Committee and is much more agriculturally inclined than our other opportunities. Candidates will get an in-depth tour of Canada’s rich agricultural landscape, finding out about practices and produce and bringing back that knowledge to their own practice. After the success of last year’s trip to Chile, the tour was in high demand, but our Interviewers were eventually able to narrow it down to a final list. The (currently confirmed) Agri Travellers are Katrina Claire Kennedy (Aberfeldy) ; Lynne Carrick (Kilmaurs) ; John Forbes (Bower) ; Lauren Todd (Reston); Eve Newlands (Lower Speyside); Jane Lindsay (Bathgate); David Mitchell (Biggar); Erin Boyle (New Cumnock); Abby Forsyth (Stewartry); Scott Dey (Inverurie) ; Lauren Nelson (Lower Nithsdale) ; Caitlin Ross (Loch Lomond); Scott Brown (Crossroads); Alistair Smith (Crossroads); Cristina Smith (Campbelltown/ Edinburgh); Lewis Gallier (Udny); Calum Greer (Kinross).