Mary-Jane Lawrie is joined by Ally Brunton chair of SAYFC and Jillian Kennedy, SAYFC Vice chair. They both talk about their time in young farmers and the experiences and benefits of being in the club. They also tell us about the SAYFC Respect campaign which was launched at the Highland Show in 2024, which aims to allow every member to contribute to SAYFC as a safe, inclusive, fun environment for young people. This episode discusses themes around mental wellbeing and suicide, please listen with care.

Resources

The Scottish Association of Young Farmers Clubs | SAYFC

SAYFC focused on RESPECT - Scottish Association of Young Farmers Clubs

Young Farmers say ‘Leave a Light On’ - Scottish Association of Young Farmers Clubs

Mental Health Support | SAYFC Members Support | Contact Us

Home - RSABI

Farmstrong Scotland - Live Well, Farm & Croft Well

Agri Culture : Farmstrong Episode

Agri Culture: Stephanie Berkeley - Yellow Wellies

Agri Culture: Jim Chapman - Adapting to Life After an Accident

For more information, visit www.FAS.scot

Twitter: @FASScot

Facebook: @FASScot

National Advice Hub

Phone: 0300 323 0161

Email: advice@fas.scot

Mary-Jane Lawrie is joined by Kenneth Bone from Glenkiln Farm on the Isle of Arran.

Kenneth Bone farms Glenkiln Farm on the Isle of Arran with his family. They won the Diversified Farm of the year award at last year’s Scottish Agriculture Awards, as well as taking home the Champion of Champions trophy. The business has an impressive portfolio, from the farming business to hydro scheme, pub, equestrian centre and housing. Kenneth tells us where it all began, and how the business diversified to be the success it is today.

Thanks for joining us for this episode of Agri Culture. If you’d like to get in touch or find out more about the various projects on Arran that we mentioned you can find links in the show notes. This episode was presented by me Mary-Jane Lawrie, produced by Kerry Hammond and edited by Cameron Waugh, in association with the Scottish Government.

Resources

Glenkiln Farm - Champion of Champions - AgriScot - Your Farm Business Event

The Drift Inn |Lamlash Isle Of Arran

Welcome to VisitArran

Arran Trust | welcome to the beautiful island of arran

Rural and Islands Housing Funds - More homes - gov.scot

For more information, visit www.FAS.scot

Twitter: @FASScot

Facebook: @FASScot

National Advice Hub

Phone: 0300 323 0161

Email: advice@fas.scot

Listener Advisory Note : This episode contains a mention of suicide, please listen with care.

Mary-Jane Lawrie is joined by joined by Jim Chapman, farmer and farm safety ambassador. Jim talks openly about the farm accident that changed his life when he lost his arm in a PTO shaft. He talks about the impact that had on him, and how he got through the dark times. He tells us how important the support he received from friends, family and young farmers was to him. He went on to do a Nuffield scholarship on farm safety and is now an ambassador for the Farm Safety Foundation.

If you’d like to get in touch or find out more about the topics we mentioned you can find links in the show notes. This episode was presented by Mary-Jane Lawrie, produced by Kerry Hammond and edited by Cameron Waugh, in association with the Scottish Government.

Resources

Farm Safety Foundation / Yellow Wellies - YellowWellies.org

Farm-Emergency-Plan-Template_1020.pdf (yellowwellies.org)

LittleBookOfMindingYourHead_10YearEdition_0424.pdf (yellowwellies.org)

Farmstrong-Scotland-Leaflet-Five-Steps-to-Wellbeing-FINAL.pdf (farmstrongscotland.org.uk)

Access to Work: get support if you have a disability or health condition: What Access to Work is - GOV.UK

Hear our other Farm Safety episode with Stephanie Berkeley from Yellow Wellies

For more information, visit www.FAS.scot

Twitter: @FASScot

Facebook: @FASScot

National Advice Hub

Phone: 0300 323 0161

Email: advice@fas.scot

Mary-Jane Lawrie is joined by Stephanie Berkeley from the Farm Safety Foundation

Stephanie Berkeley is Manager of the Farm Safety Foundation, which you might know also as Yellow Wellies. The Farm Safety Foundation was established in 2014 with the aim of improving farm safety in the UK. The Foundation runs successful campaigns such as Farm Safety week and educates young farmers across the UK in colleges and young farmer clubs. Stephanie talks to us about the importance of the charity, and resources available to all farmers.

If you’d like to get in touch or find out more about The Farm Safety Foundation and sources of support you can find links in the show notes. This episode was presented by Mary-Jane Lawrie edited by Cameron Waugh and produced by Kerry Hammond, in association with the Scottish Government.

Resources

Farm Safety Foundation / Yellow Wellies - YellowWellies.org

LittleBookOfFarmSafety_1stEdition_0624.pdf (yellowwellies.org)

Build your Own Health & Safety Policy Digital Tool (yellowwellies.org)

Farm-Emergency-Plan-Template_1020.pdf (yellowwellies.org)

LittleBookOfMindingYourHead_10YearEdition_0424.pdf (yellowwellies.org)

Farmstrong-Scotland-Leaflet-Five-Steps-to-Wellbeing-FINAL.pdf (farmstrongscotland.org.uk)

Access to Work: get support if you have a disability or health condition: What Access to Work is - GOV.UK

For more information, visit www.FAS.scot

Twitter: @FASScot

Facebook: @FASScot

National Advice Hub

Phone: 0300 323 0161

Email: advice@fas.scot

In this episode, Mary-Jane Lawrie is joined by Cathy Magee from Dyslexia Scotland.

Cathy Magee is the chief executive of Dyslexia Scotland. We talked about what dyslexia is, how it can affect you, and how to go about getting an assessment. Dyslexia Scotland have a range of resources available to support people with dyslexia. Cathy also tells us about the technologies and adaptations that might be helpful for people with dyslexia. RSABI have partnered with Dyslexia Scotland to offer free dyslexia assessments to farmers and crofters. We also talked about the ways that dyslexia might make some aspects of farming challenging but also has some benefits in the way that people think and work in different ways.

Resources

To arrange a free assessment, which typically costs around £500, people involved in farming or crofting in Scotland should contact RSABI’s 24-hour freephone helpline - 0808 1234 555.

Dyslexia Scotland Helpline: 0344 800 84 84

Assessing dyslexia in adults (youtube.com)

Library | Dyslexia Scotland - Dyslexia Scotland

Post-assessment pack for adults | Dyslexia Scotland -Dyslexia Scotland

Access to Work: get support if you have a disability or health condition: What Access to Work is - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

For more information,

visit www.FAS.scot

Twitter: @FASScot

Facebook: @FASScot

National Advice Hub

Phone: 0300 323 0161

Email: advice@fas.scot

Mary-Jane Lawrie is joined by Pete Black of Collessie Feeds and Newton of Colessie Farm.

Pete Black farms at Newton of Collessie with his parents and brother. They run a successful diversified farming business with arable, commercial cattle, pedigree sheep and Clydesdales, alongside Collessie Feeds. We chatted about the farm business and the various enterprises and the family’s time on This Farming Life. Whilst appearing on This Farming Life Pete mentioned that he had dyslexia which led to him becoming an ambassador for RSABI to help them promote their dyslexia in farming campaign. Pete talks openly about how dyslexia affects his day-to-day life and how he has adapted to find ways to make running his business easier.

To arrange a free dyslexia assessment, which typically costs around £500, people involved in farming or crofting in Scotland should contact RSABI’s 24-hour freephone Helpline - 0808 1234 555

Resources

Collessie Feeds - Pro-Equine Ltd

To arrange a free dyslexia assessment, which typically costs around £500, people involved in farming or crofting in Scotland should contact RSABI’s 24-hour freephone Helpline - 0808 1234 555 Home - RSABI

Dyslexia ScotlandDyslexia Scotland - Empowering people with dyslexia to reach their full potential

For more information, visit www.FAS.scot

Twitter: @FASScot

Facebook: @FASScot

National Advice Hub

Phone: 0300 323 0161

Email: advice@fas.scot

Mary-Jane Lawrie is joined by Fred Swift from South Clunes Farm and Highland Clip, and Stella Stewart from Anta.

Fred Swift farms South Clunes Farm near Inverness in the Highlands with his wife Sofi and his father. They run a traditional upland farm with cattle and sheep. Fred and his family have transformed the farm over the last 40 years, increasing biodiversity and introducing mob grazing. He was looking for an opportunity to add value to the wool from his sheep, and together with Scottish luxury brand Anta, they established the Highland Clip. The Highland Clip is working to add value to wool, whilst also creating a fully traceable product, which is important to Anta. Stella Stewart, a director of Anta, tells us why traceable wool and working with South Clunes is important to their business.

Resources

FAS TV: S2 E9 –South Clunes Farm Cluster (youtube.com)

History of the farm | South Clunes Farm | Inverness

Luxury Home Furnishings & Gifts Made in Scotland | ANTA

Protecting Highland Wool – ANTA

For more information, visit www.fas.scot

Twitter: @FASScot

Facebook: @FASScot

National Advice Hub

Phone: 0300 323 0161

Email: advice@fas.scot

Mary-Jane Lawrie visits Whitriggs Farm in the Scottish Borders to speak to Lesley Mitchell. They chat about the family farm and how it has evolved over the years, their openness to challenges and change, and how that has allowed Lesley and her family to build a business that supports the family whilst also allowing a good work life balance. Once key change has been converting the business to organic and following a more regenerative agriculture approach, which has required a change in mindset. The farm now runs cattle and deer alongside their organic arable enterprise, making the most of their skills, time and farm assets. Lesley also talks about how she personally makes time for learning, which recently resulted in a trip to Antartica.

FAS Resources

Organics

For more information, visit www.FAS.scot

Twitter: @FASScot

Facebook: @FASScot

National Advice Hub

Phone: 0300 323 0161

Email: advice@fas.scot