'By attending the Highland Show and many other agricultural shows, we are investing in our wellbeing. By doing this on a regular basis, we build reserves so that when we come under pressure, we've something to fall back on'

So, with show week upon us and with all roads leading to the big smoke for the Royal Highland Show, it would be remiss of me not to mention what has for years been a pilgrimage for us as a family.

I’m very fortunate in that mum and dad had the foresight to buy me a life membership for £50 when I was two, which has over the years allowed me to attend annually in a cost-effective manner.

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There’s been a fair bit of chat around the cost of attending the show and RHASS have taken a little heat over admission prices and the process, in their defence they are moving with the times and unfortunately you don’t get much for £37 these days.

Having seen glimpses of the hard work that goes on behind the scenes, credit is due to the full time and seasonal team at Ingliston house that bring the show together.

As a nation we are sometimes guilty of highlighting negatives, let's take a minute if we are at the show to stop and admire the graft that has gone into making this event happen, visitors from all over the world ‘flock to the show’ and experience the wow factor!

If you see a RHASS member of staff or board member, take a minute to congratulate them on the show. You have no idea what it will do to their day and cast a glance as they walk away, they will have a little extra bounce in their step which will help them get through until Sunday night.

We have dabbled in the show ring on occasion over the years with limited success. First with Charolais sheep many moons ago and more recently with Beltex and it’s at the show when I first saw this imported breed and was encouraged to help show them by the legendary John Frazier and his sons, Andy (the podcaster) and Nick.

John was one of those people who could breed anything. He just had the knack, he loved the show and like many great showmen was more than happy to inspire the next generation whilst sampling and often adding to his whisky collection when north of the Border.

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On the cattle front, we have taken cattle twice and had great fun with Dakota of Upsall, a gentle giant of a Beef Shorthorn bull shown by Jimmy Laing who didn’t quite get the ticket we hoped he might – but that’s the way showing goes.

With only one beast there that year, Jimmy had things under control during the day but as the sun went down the table turned and I kept an eye on Jimmy. Age is, after all, just a number and my word that man likes a party!

As I type, the memories are flooding back of various trips over the years, from the early days attending when The Herdsman was a proper bar and you viewed the afternoon judging with refreshment in hand before heading to town to carry on socialising until daylight – and then up and away again.

And in later days, with the kids in tow at the show for the first time it was great to see them in awe of its scale, the crowds, the sights and smells before fading into push chairs with shortening fuses all round.

From a competitive point of view, I stockedjudged on various occasions, sometimes as one of the SAYFC North Region sheep team and once with Steven MacLean now of M&S – we looked a little different then! We did well, but didn’t have the firepower to get past the Ayrshire clubs, whose reason giving was on a different level!

I’ve had the honor of judging there once in the Beef Shorthorn ring. I chose not to linger for pre-show drinks outside Ryans Bar on Wednesday afternoon before that show, my word I was nervous.

It can be a lonely place in the middle of the ring when the classes start coming thick and fast. It’s a bit like getting married – you need to stop and take in the spectacle every now and again, as it passes in the blink of an eye.

Over the past few years, the show has taken on a slightly different dimension for me. As I get older (and possibly more responsible?), meetings and receptions take up more of my time on the show field but to keep things in perspective, an element of socialising is always built into the plan.

This year's focus will be split between two organisations which are close to my heart. Beef Shorthorns, which we breed at Fearn and have been around for more than 200 years and Farmstrong, something completely new to the farming and crofting scene which has a big part to play in the future of our industry and its people.

Farmstrong – if you haven’t heard about it – originates in New Zealand and we are lucky this year to have Gerard Vaughn, its project lead, across at the show and for two weeks post show to help us with our plans.

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Farmstrong is a nationwide 'wellbeing' programme for rural communities which helps people live well to farm and croft well, we all have wellbeing many of us just don’t realise what it is and that we need to look after it.

If I think about Beef Shorthorns and the contribution they have made to my wellbeing over the years, it is significant. OK there’s been a few disappointments as you get with any livestock but the benefits outweigh them by far.

In terms of Farmstrong's 'five ways to wellbeing' they have given me the opportunity to ‘connect’ with others who share a passion for the breed, to ‘take notice’ and ‘be active’ when I walk through them on a quiet Sunday morning, I ‘give’ back as a volunteer on the society board and that in term gives me the chance to ‘keep learning’.

Without knowing it, by attending the Highland Show and many other agricultural shows throughout the country, we are investing in our wellbeing. By doing this on a regular basis, we build reserves so that when we come under pressure we have something to fall back on.

Of course, we are all different and one of the wonderful things about wellbeing is that different things work for different people, the key is to find out what works for you and lock it in!

If you would like to learn more about Farmstrong and meet Gerard please come and see us – we will be on the NFU stand 9-11am Thursday to Saturday at the show.