NUFFIELD CONFERENCE PRIZE AND £1000 FOR YOUNG AGRISCOT WINNER
A one-thousand-pound cash prize, plus a sponsored trip to the Nuffield Farming Conference will be awarded to the winner of this year’s AgriScot Business Skills competition.
Regional heats of the competition, which is open to students and young agricultural professionals (under 25) and seeks to assess candidates on a range of farm and business management tasks, have now taken place.
The 2 regional heats, Calla Farm, Carnwath for the South and Muirden, Turriff for the North of Scotland, saw competitors judged by the host farmer and an independent assessor.
Ultimately four young people emerged as competition finalists from the regional heats and will now go forward to compete in the final on the day of AgriScot for the main prize of a £1000 cheque courtesy of new sponsors Dairymaster UK Ltd.
The finalists are:
Hollie Cruikshank, from Grantown-on-Spey, a 4th year Agriculture student at SRUC Aberdeen
Ian Buchanan, Kinross, a 4th year Agriculture student at SRUC Aberdeen
Alasdair Allan, Linlithgow, a 3rd year Agriculture student at SRUC Edinburgh
Craig Stout, Orkney, a 3rd year Agriculture student at SRUC Edinburgh
The final will see the four competitors judged on the task of assessing the value and relevance of an innovative product or service showcased at AgriScot.
Bill Dingwall of SRUC, who co-ordinates the competition on behalf of AgriScot stated:
“This competition is a great experience for all of the young people who take part. The finalists at AgriScot 2017 were asked to report on the benefits a new rapeseed-based livestock feed product launched at the event. One of the finalists, Kerry Cartwright, has subsequently gone on to win support from the product manufacturer, Norvite, to carry out live feed trial work on the product.”
“The 2016 winner of the competition, Heather Kerr, now works alongside me at SRUC and this year took on role of organising the south regional heat at Carnwath.”
“There are so many great success stories from previous winners and finalists and participation definitely adds kudos to a CV.”
For this year, to coincide with the Nuffield Farming Conference taking place in Glasgow on the day after AgriScot, the event directors have also agreed to add a special prize, supporting the competition winner to attend the prestigious conference.
Robert Neill, AgriScot Chairman commented:
“We are delighted and grateful to announce Dairymaster UK Ltd as the new sponsor for our Business Skills Competition. Their support allows us to continue to work with SRUC and SAYFC to organise and stage this renowned competition.”
“We are set to host a large number of Nuffield scholars at AgriScot this year on the eve of their farming conference. It will be a great privilege to host them at AgriScot and give them a day packed with innovation and ideas to fuel their thoughts for their own event.”
“I am delighted that we can also offer our 2018 Business Skills competition winner the chance to attend the Nuffield Farming Conference as a bonus prize this year.”
Chris Howarth of sponsors, Dairymaster UK Ltd concluded:
“The AgriScot Business Skills Competition is a great way to showcase and reward the young business minded agricultural professionals coming into our industry.”
“We look forward to meeting Hollie, Alasdair, Ian and Craig and ultimately to presenting our prize cheque to the winner.”
“I wish them all the best of luck.”
