Young farmers in the north and north-east are being encouraged to engage more with their local communities.
The north region of the Scottish Association of Young Farmers’ Clubs (SAYFC) has launched a campaign called Challenge The North.
It sets out to encourage young farmers’ clubs, spanning from Orkney to Kincardineshire, to get more involved with their local communities.
Local groups and organisations are being asked to come forward and set tasks for young farmers. SAYFC said suitable tasks could be anything from planting trees in a community garden or stewarding at a country fair car park, to entertaining a local group of children.
The challenge has been set by recently appointed SAYFC north regional chairman Kim Taylor, of Turriff JAC.
She said: “SAYFC has always encouraged its members to be active citizens within the local community and I feel that this ethos is a very important part of what makes young farmers great. I would like to encourage all clubs to undertake community engagement in some form throughout the year.”
She said each club in the region had been set the task to accept challenges throughout the year. Clubs are asked to publicise their voluntary acts by posting on social media sites using the hashtag #ChallengeTheNorth.
Meanwhile, the results of the SAYFC Highland Ready Steady Country Cooks contest have been revealed.
Judges Margaret Brims of Thuster and Eva Swanson of Watten tasted dishes put forward by six teams. They gave their champion prize to a duo from Halkirk comprising Nicolle Cameron and Vicki Dunnet. The pair will now go on to compete at the semi-finals of the nationwide Country Cooks contest at next month’s Royal Highland Show.
Second place went to brother and sister duo Michael and Laura Gunn from Forss, while third place went to Annie Mills and Amy Robertson from Halkirk.