Late Summer and Autumn have been a busy time for the Stewartry Young Farmers. Starting with the Stewartry Show back in August, the club teamed up with C C Service Ltd and held a ‘Grand Raffle’ to win a lorry load of straw. Congratulations to Ann Young, Rhonehouse who won! The Young Farmer girls took part in the Show YF Floral Art Class with the theme for this year being ‘Jewels’. Those placed were:
1st: Katie Sproat, 2nd: Amy Wright, 3rd: Kirsty Yates and 4th: Sophie Kirkwood
Congratulations to Katie Maxwell who came first with her Victoria Sponge cake in the YF baking competition & thanks to Marylyn McMath for judging!
The last local show of the season was Dumfries on Saturday 4th August. A handicrafts team entered and made a poster, flask of soup, knitted hat and further article under the theme of ‘Bonfire Night’. Well done to Katie Maxwell who won 1st with her Spicy Butternut Squash soup. Kirsty McMath was also successful and placed 1st in the photography competition for her ‘Lifestyle’ photos of her recent Young Farmers exchange to Finland!
On Sunday 12th August, a group of the girls went pottery painting at Mossyard. Who would have known that painting pottery could be so therapeutic?! It was a quiet afternoon as all the girls were concentrating on their masterpieces!
This year, the club hosted a ‘Big Weekend Away’, which entailed a trip to the JCB Factory in Uttoxeter, followed by an evening at the Shropshire YF Chairman’s Ball. Members from other clubs joined Stewartry and they all had a great time!
On Sunday 16th September, 18 members went along to the Energi Park in Carlisle for an afternoon of fun! It was a great day which was topped off by a lovely meal at Pizza Express at Gretna Gateway.
As you might have seen, the Young Farmers set up their bale art structure on Saturday 29th September opposite Tarff Valley, Ringford. Thanks to Tom Clark, Valleyfield for lending his bales and for setting them in place. Also, to Peter McNicol, Margrie for supplying the black wrap for the wee hay bales. Unfortunately, Betsy the Beltie didn’t place in the National competition but still made for an interesting display for a week!
On Wednesday 3rd October, members of the club went along to Griersons Butchers for a lamb butchery demo night. This was a very fitting topic to discuss and see the lamb carcass demonstration during the QMS Scotch Lamb campaign! Tom Grierson was an excellent host and treated the members to some sausage rolls which went down very well!
On Saturday 6th October, the Dumfries and Galloway District of Young Farmers held their Mr & Miss Competition. This year, three members from Stewartry took part and Katie Sproat, Club Secretary, was placed 3rd D&G Miss Young Farmer. The judges asked participating members a variety of questions relating to Young Farmers association.
On Monday 22nd October, a Dairy Dressing demo night was held at Meikle Firthhead by kind permission of the Yates Family. Michael Yates, East Logan, very kindly gave up his time to show members of the club how to dress a dairy calf and shared his expert techniques.
With things now getting quieter, the club has started practices for their annual concert, ‘Princess and the Pigs’, which will be performed in January 2019. Keep your eyes peeled for more information!
The clubs next event is a Panel Night, Wednesday 14th November, Laurie Arms Hotel, Haugh of Urr. Questions start at 7.30pm – don’t be late! Panellists: Duncan McConchie (Laggan Outdoor, GG’s Yard), Wilma Finlay (Cream O’ Galloway) and Tom McCubbin (Lower Nithsdale Chairman).
