Scottish Agri Awards: Diversified, Future, and Machinery

Diversified Farm of the Year

Kenneth and Moira Marshall, Boghead Farm, Marshalls Farm Shop

“Marshall Farms is owned by a 2nd/3rd generation family. We, Kenneth, Moira and our three girls (Christine, Julie and Shona), are very much at the helm of this enterprise.

“Diversification began back in the 1990s with a self-service trailer. In 2010, we opened a purpose-built farm shop and café with the aim to cut out the middleman and promote our own produce whilst selling direct to the general public. In 2021, our state-of-the-art farm shop with butcher counter and restaurant opened its doors. Since then, we’ve expanded further with our in-house butchery and bakery, gift shop, drive-thru and play park.

“In our farm shop we sell our own produce including: Aberdeen Angus beef, grass-fed lamb, outdoor rare-breed pork, potatoes, vegetables and free-range eggs. The farm shop has had a significant and positive impact on our core farm business. Half the farm turnover is now going through the business – between restaurant, butchery and shop.

“To be nominated is a huge achievement in itself, especially being amongst such other brilliant, farm-diversified businesses up and down the country. We’re proud to be part of the growing agritourism network in Scotland. The five of us play a huge part in the day-to-day running of the business, so it is one way to celebrate and recognise our hard work in the industry, but we couldn’t do it without our brilliant staff and management team, so this nomination is an achievement shared.”

Kenneth and Moira Marshall(middle) with their daughters(from left) Shona, Christine and Julie Ref: RH300924089 Rob Haining / The Scottish Farmer...

Jasmine Jackson, Jacksons of Jedburgh, Kershaugh Farm

“Jacksons at Jedburgh is a family farm that is enabling people to see farm life in the flesh. We offer the opportunity to see a glimpse into a farming family’s daily routines; to observe (and take part) in the seasonal changes of the farming calendar; and to bear some witness to the challenges farmers face. We do all this through an open and honest social media platform and a very personal and informative welcome to the farm for visitors, as well as through hands on experiences such as our Lambing Experience. Jacksons at Jedburgh hosts self-guided visits seven days a week from April to October, alongside guided tours and hands on experiences.

“I feel like the nomination is an accomplishment in itself for us and our business. To carve this path in the midst of lockdown and raising a family has been one heck of a journey, an incredible feeling to hear we were nominated. We really have created something special here after all.”

Fenwick and Jasmine Jackson, Jacksons of Jedburgh

Gavin Brown, Springfield Farm, Springfield Farm Holiday Pods

“We purchased Springfield Farm totalling 152 acres and since then we have been doing everything we can to make it a viable farm parcel including purchasing neighbouring ground. We now run a mixed sheep and beef farm over 300 acres that has had small diversification changes over the years including the addition of 14 holiday pods in 2023.

“Fully run by solar and supported by our farm and farm-shop, our holiday pods regularly get excellent reviews, something that brings us great pride. We also love speaking to our guests and hearing about their experience staying on the farm, it reminds us about how lucky we are to work where we do. We lean on this very heavily in our reviews mainly on the Holiday pods and to date I can say they have been fantastic with most sites giving us five stars based on customer feedback but there are little things that we take note of that can always make the next customer's experience better.

“We are very excited to be nominated in such a competitive category and we are honoured to be able to showcase what we do.”

The Brown Family, Springfield Farm, Penicuik

Farming’s Future Awards

Andrew Hiddleston

“I farm on a 730 acre upland farm at Kirkpatrick Durham, south-west Scotland on a 10 year MLDT which I was able to secure in 2019 from the Crofts Estate. We run 1000 ewes, 350 Cheviots, 650 Cheviot and Scotch mules, and 50 pedigree Texels and Blue Texels.

“We are producing most of our own replacements now but a hard culling process for lameness, lambing issues etc means we still top up with a few Cheviot draft ewes bought out of Longtown.

“Alongside the sheep I run a cattle bed and breakfast enterprise wintering 160 dairy heifer stirks on straw bedded courts, whilst renting out another shed on a head per week basis to a neighbour.

“Although it was not expected, it is a real honour to have been nominated for the future farmer award alongside some great fellow nominees who are approaching their farming future in both similar and differing ways from myself.”

Andrew Hiddleston, Kirkcudbrightshire

Ben Best

“I farm in Dumfries at Dalscone Farm where we have 200 sheep and 100 goats. Our farm attracts visitors from all over the world. I have a passion for educating people about farming life and the peaks and troughs that come along with it. I try to innovate with new ideas to diversify our farm and create a more robust business to help Dalscone Farm navigate any challenges we may face in the future. We also do a lot on social media teaching the general public about farming. We are very fortunate to have that platform.

“It’s a big honour to be nominated under the farming’s future category and I believe the awards are a great showcase of the industry”

Ben Best, Dalscone Farm, Dumfries

James Hamilton

“I was brought up on a mixed farm at Strathaven, where my grandpa, dad and younger brother still farm. I currently farm at Gilmeadowland farm, Linlithgow, a mixed beef sheep and arable farm. It is a 240-acre tenanted farm on the Callendar estate, which has now been in my mum’s side of the family for 400 years. I took over from my grandfather in 2013.

“On top of this I have another 170 acres of seasonal lets. I run 70 Aberdeen Angus cross cows, breeding my own replacements and the rest to Charolais bulls. There are also 450 Cheviot mule and Texel cross breeding sheep put to home bred Texel and Beltex tups and I grow 75 acres of feed barley to finish the calves and another 30 or so bought in stores.

“I also enjoy getting out and about, doing some contracting with our combination baler and working at Lanark mart, as well as having been actively involved in young farmers. I’m surprised and honoured to be involved in the awards, and look forward to cheering on all the winners on the night”

James Hamilton, Linlithgow

Nicola Wordie

“Born and bred on our family farm in north-east Scotland, we run a herd of 240 suckler cows and 1000 sheep. I started my social media channel in January 2021 with the hope of educating and inspiring people about farming and the agricultural industry. I love sharing our story, you get it all with me - the highs and the lows! Please feel free to follow my journey on Facebook/ Instagram and YouTube @livestock_farmher

“I am honoured to have been nominated and selected as a finalist for this prestigious award alongside three other worthy finalists. I’m very much looking forward to the awards night.”

Nicola Wordie, Huntly

Machinery Dealer of the Year,

Garry Wight, AB Wight Engineering

“AB Wight engineering was established in 2014, Providing a range of agricultural engineering services to local farmers. My brother Andrew Wight also manufactured a range of attachments and trailers from our original workshop in Charlesfield. Two years later I joined my brother to develop a parts and sales side to the business in 2016. The year 2023 saw the completion of our new depot at St Boswells, offering showroom, large parts department, service workshop and engineering workshop. Ten years on we are committed to providing top quality service and value for money, with our team working in the industry all their life. We proudly hold the dealerships for, McCormick, McHale, Pottinger, CF Moto, Dieci, McCauley, and West. With our current staff numbers at 12 we are constantly growing.

“We are absolutely delighted to have made it to the final of this great award. Firstly I must thank you for the nomination, and I would like to thank the team at AB Wight for their hard work and effort.”

Garry Wight, AB Wight Engineering, St Boswells

Les Gammie, Depot manager, Gammies Groundcare

“Gammies Groundcare is a machinery dealership based in Forfar, Scotland. Founded in 1968 with a focus on Agricultural and Horticultural Machinery, Gammies has since grown to serve a diverse range of markets and provide, service and repair a range of agricultural, horticultural, groundcare, lawn and garden machinery across Aberdeenshire, Angus and surrounding areas. Built up of dedicated departments, the depot features a dedicated parts department, general stores, new and used machinery sales and a service department with an in-house blacksmith all of which is designed to provide support throughout the products lifecycle from sales, annual servicing, replacement parts and repairs.

“We are both ecstatic and proud to be finalists for Machinery Dealer in the Scottish Agriculture Awards. This is a longstanding industry with a rich history and a large part of what maintains a dealership such as ours through different challenges and economical conditions is the people who work here. Our staff largely come from agricultural backgrounds, bringing with them not only knowledge and experience but also passion for the industry which maintains out high standard of customer service. Their commitment to this industry is a testament to our business and being finalists for the awards allows us to show our appreciation for their hard work and dedication to providing exceptional service to our customers.”

Les Gammie, Depot Manager at Gammies Groundcare, Forfar