Kyle Scott from Crossroads YFC has earned the title of being the first-ever SAYFC Junior Young Farmer of the Year, a title supported by SRUC, Scotland’s Rural College.

The 14-year-old secured the award at the Royal Highland Show, impressing judges with a well-prepared Farm Plan and an essay titled ‘If You Do a Job You Love…’ where he shared his aspiration of becoming a vet and his roadmap to achieving this dream.

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Overjoyed with his achievement, Kyle said:

“I couldn’t believe I had won when I first saw the results and it still hasn’t really sunk in yet. To be the first ever winner is really special. I’m definitely going to get involved in more Young Farmers Competitions in the future and maybe even take a crack at the senior Young Farmer of the Year competition in a few years’ time.”

This new contest, aimed at members aged 14 to 18, was developed in collaboration with SRUC to engage junior members, acknowledge their efforts, accomplishments and encouraging them to start planning for their futures.

Anouska Curzon, marketing and student recruitment lead at SRUC, commended the competitors: “SRUC were proud to support the SAYFC Junior Young Farmer of the Year competition. Our goal was to inspire contestants to look ahead and explore diverse career paths, encouraging innovation and sustainability for the future of farming. The exceptional quality of the entries showcases the remarkable talent and promise of the next generation in agriculture.”

For the competition, participants were required to create a digital poster based on a given farm plan, portraying what the farm might look like in a decade.

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They also wrote essays about their dream careers and explained how their chosen SRUC course could help them achieve these ambitions.

The entries highlighted a wide range of careers within the agricultural sector, including veterinary sciences, business management, animal husbandry, feed nutrition, and more. The farm plans demonstrated innovative and sustainable thinking that promises to elevate the industry in the future.

SAYFC extends its thanks to SRUC for their support in organising this competition and contributing to this year’s prizes, which included a £150 Amazon Voucher and a free trip on SAYFC’s Junior Jaunt.