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On a cold, wet winter’s day in December, six young farmers will gather for battle.
This won’t, however, be outside a beer tent arguing over spilt drinks, it will be for the final of the Scottish Association of Young Farmers’ Clubs’ (SAYFC) Young Farmer of the Year competition.
An array of agricultural practices and livestock genetics (not to mention waterproof jackets) have landed on our shores from New Zealand – and this competition, inspired by the Kiwi contest of the same name, would do well to emulate the opportunities and publicity its counterpart provides.
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About the author
David Bennie
David Bennie works on the family sheep, beef and arable farm near Stirling. He is also involved with the Royal Highland Education Trust and the Scottish Association of Young Farmers Clubs.
The NZ competition final is even broadcast throughout the country and is used as a nationwide platform to promote agriculture to the public, schools and politicians, as well as a way of sharing best practice among the next generation of farmers.
There is even the offshoot AgriKidsNZ contest for primary schools. Now that’s bringing the countryside to the classroom.
Can you imagine the potential promotion for UK agriculture and Young Farmers’ Clubs if we had the same opportunity in our country of 68 million people?
Showing agriculture and rural life on our own terms, not though the filter of a biased TV producer.
Shedding the public stereotype of a farmer having to be a 60-something, grey-haired male and showing them young guys and girls getting stuck into farming.
It strikes me that other YFC organisations, including the juggernaut that is the National Federation of Young Farmers’ Clubs in England and Wales, might be missing a trick here, as there is no equivalent competition that covers as many aspects of farm management.
The closest I can see is the Welsh-language channel S4C’s Fferm Ffactor.
This has no YFC affiliation and the average age of participants seems above YFC age, but it bills itself as a “farming game show” and sees contestants battle it out to win the title of the Best Farmer in Wales. There is even a celebrity version.
Now in its sixth year, the Scottish competition will pit contestants against each other in a range of practical tasks and business challenges, from sheep shearing and chainsaw operation to cashflows and profit margin calculations.
In a country destitute of farm labour, showcasing and rewarding practical farm skills highlights the rewards of an agricultural career.
SAYFC has not sold the TV rights to Netflix just yet, but with farming-related shows airing on many channels, who’s to say it’s impossible.
Health and safety is a huge component of the competition, with time penalties being added for unsafe practice and incorrect PPE.
Forget whatever “nanny state” ideas you may have; instilling a greater health and safety mindset into one of the most at-risk demographics (16- to 25-year-olds) is a step forward for the industry.
YFC competitions such as this can drive this change in attitude.
The Scottish competition is in its infancy and has a way to go until it has the same impact as the NZ version, but with commitment from organisers and competitors it will continue to grow.
Meanwhile, let’s hope young farmers across the UK take time to look at the NZ and Scottish competitions and see the potential for the YFC movement – and the whole industry – that such competitions can have.
Then we’ve just got to get them broadcast on Netflix.
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