Strichen JAC chairman John Brown was named Scotland’s Young Farmer Member of the Year at the weekend.
The 21-year-old, who works on his family’s farm at Hilton of Culsh, New Deer, and as a sheep shearer through the summer, collected the accolade on Saturday in Dunfermline at the Scottish Association of Young Farmers’ Clubs annual com-petitions weekend.
He told the Press and Journal yesterday he was honoured to have collected the annual accolade.
John is also chairman of the movement’s East Aberdeenshire District, which had nominated him. He had to outline his previous involvement in the organisation, his current posts and how he would like to improve Young Farmers.
He was interviewed on Saturday by former YF members June Geyer, Andrew Sleigh and Agnes Paton.
John said: “It was a good interview. I am delighted to have won, absolutely delighted. I could not have done this without the support of my club and district behind me. I never imagined that I would actually win. I just can’t stop smiling and am looking forward to holding the title for the year ahead.”
John, who graduated with a HND in agriculture from SRUC’s Oatridge campus, farms with father Willie. They run 130 suckler cows and 600 sheep. John has his own flock of pedigree Texels and concentrates on producing shearling rams from them.
He has over the last year as district chairman served on the SAYFC north region committee and on national council.
He was placed in the top 25 in last year’s stockmanship programme run by Young Farmers at the Royal Highland Show, where he also took part in the SAYFC sheep shearing contest. He was involved in last year’s Grampian rally and took to the stage last weekend in the inaugural Northern Spotlights cabaret show staged by the north region at Inverurie’s Thainstone Centre.
Judges said they were impressed with his contribution to the club, where he sees one of his key roles as supporting and encouraging young members to become involved and take part in various activities and contests.
John joined Young Farmers aged 14 and said it had been a huge benefit to him. He added: “For me, joining Young Farmers was about meeting like-minded people, making life-long friends and competing in the agri competitions. The confidence that I have gained, the increased skills and contacts throughout Scotland will play a huge role in my future.”
John wants to contribute more to the movement and play a greater role in its agri and rural affairs committee. He also hopes to take up the travel opportunities via its travel scholarships as well as win its stockmanship programme.
SAYFC chairman Katherine Marr added: “The standard was extremely high this year, with 10 excellent candidates competing for the title. John is an all-round member, contributing at club, district, regional and national level. He is well respected by the members, and his enthusiasm and ambition shines through. I am delighted the accolade returns to the north where is was last won in 2009.”
Gillian Walker, of Avondale YFC, was reserve.
Other results:
Dodgeball – 1 Fife and Kinross, 2 Border Federation, 3 Mauchiline YFC. 10-pin bowling – 1 Biggar YFC, 2 Carluke YFC, 3 Stranraer and Rhins YFC.
Senior speechmaking – 1 Kilmaurs Red, 2 Carluke Red, 3 Kilmaurs Pink. Best vote of thanks – Elaine Duguid, Turriff and District JAC. Best chairman – David Rae, Lower Nithsdale.
Selected to attend the SAYFC’s study trip to Argentina later this year were Alan Bankier, Carluke; Sarah Allison, Lanark; Jane Orr, Bell Baxter; Fraser Campbell, Bankfoot; Robert Ramsay, Crossroads; Andrew Dalgarno, Turriff and District; Isla King, Reston; Robert Marshall, Mid Deeside; John Howie, Crossroads; Ranald Angus, Bower; John Anderson, Halkirk; Elaine Henderson, Forfar and District; Stuart Cowan, Annandale; Alison Ritch, Sandwick.