Royal Highland Show - OnFARM Scottish farming podcast

Caithness YFC: celebrating 100 years of Young Farmers in Scotland

Mon, 09 Oct 2023 01:00:00 +0000

Celebrations have been taking place in Caithness to mark 100 years since the Young Farmer’s movement got underway in Scotland. The Scottish Association of Young Farmers Clubs - SAYFC - wasn’t formed until 1938, but the first ever club was set up at a rural school house near Thurso in 1923.

Centenary events have included a tractor rally, a quiz night, a forthcoming dinner and dance, and - most recently - the unveiling of a commemorative stone at the site of the first meeting.

OnFARM's Dave Howard was there.

This episode, which is supported and made possible by RHASS, is the result of OnFARM's 'Pitch a Pod' competition, when we challenged people at the Royal Highland Show to tell us stories they thought we should tell in future episodes of the podcast.

Mentioned in this episode:

Podcast producers Bespoken Media

All episodes of OnFARM are produced and edited by Scottish podcast production specialists Bespoken Media. Find Bespoken at www.bespoken.media

SAYFC on the pull: Tug of War championships 2023

Mon, 21 Aug 2023 03:00:00 +0000

In amongst the action at the 2023 SAYFC Tug of War championships - this episode's got grit, glory, excitement, and controversy. We hear from competitors, fans, tearful relatives, and SAYFC national vice chair Ally Brunton. Huge congrats and respect to all the competitors. Episode supported by Bell Ingram.

Mentioned in this episode:

Podcast producers Bespoken Media

All episodes of OnFARM are produced and edited by Scottish podcast production specialists Bespoken Media. Find Bespoken at www.bespoken.media

Golden Shears world shearing championships at the Royal Highland Show

Wed, 21 Jun 2023 01:00:00 +0000

The Golden Shears world sheep shearing championships are hosted in 2023 by the Royal Highland Show.

The competition's first return to Scotland in over 20 years has teams from 30 countries competing in machine shearing, hand shearing, and wool handling categories.

Competitors gathered earlier this week for a last-minute training session at Crookston Farm in the Borders. OnFARM's Monty and producer Dave were there too.

This episode of OnFARM is kindly supported by Lawrie and Symington.

Mentioned in this episode:

Podcast producers Bespoken Media

All episodes of OnFARM are produced and edited by Scottish podcast production specialists Bespoken Media. Find Bespoken at www.bespoken.media

RHET chairman's cycle challenge

Mon, 19 Jun 2023 01:00:00 +0000

RHET chairman and Dumfries and Galloway farmer Alistair Marshall is midway through a cross-Scotland cycling fundraiser. His e hopes to visit schools in all 13 RHET regions in the run-up to the Royal Highland Show.

The aim is to raise over £10,000 to support RHET to continue to provide free educational activities and experiential learning for young people aged 3 -18 years.

OnFARM's Anna Davies was one of a group of riders who joined Alistair for the first leg of his trip, setting out from Stobhill Primary School in Midlothian.

To support Alistair's cycle challenge for the Royal Highland Education Trust, visit the JustGiving page here.

This episode of OnFARM is kindly supported by Bell Ingram.

Mentioned in this episode:

Podcast producers Bespoken Media

All episodes of OnFARM are produced and edited by Scottish podcast production specialists Bespoken Media. Find Bespoken at www.bespoken.media

RHET at the Royal Highland Show

Thu, 30 Jun 2022 01:00:00 +0000

The 200th anniversary Royal Highland Show was also a welcome return to the RHET Discovery Centre at Ingliston. In this episode, Anna chats with RHET education manager Katrina Barclay, and a host of volunteers and supporters helping children to learn more about the working Scottish countryside. We also hear from Alan White and Amy Eakin from law firm Gillespie Macandrew, who are big supporters of RHET, and who are kindly partnering with us for this episode. For more on RHET (the Royal Highland Education Trust), visit https://www.rhet.org.uk/

Mentioned in this episode:

Podcast producers Bespoken Media

All episodes of OnFARM are produced and edited by Scottish podcast production specialists Bespoken Media. Find Bespoken at www.bespoken.media

Back with a flourish! The 2022 Royal Highland Show

Mon, 27 Jun 2022 09:30:00 +0000

Were you there? Did you have fun? After a long wait, the 200th anniversary Royal Highland Show arrived with gusto - and what a weekend it was. The perfect blend of work and pleasure, there’s no doubting the Highland Show is a world-beating event, that most of us would be lost without. In this episode Anna, Monty, and producer Dave are joining in the fun. We visit Scotland's first autonomous tractor with Soil Essentials, pop in to trade stands including Scottish Land and Estates and Scottish Organic Milk Producers, check out some of the competitions, and blether with old friends and new faces.

Mentioned in this episode:

Podcast producers Bespoken Media

All episodes of OnFARM are produced and edited by Scottish podcast production specialists Bespoken Media. Find Bespoken at www.bespoken.media

The 200th Royal Highland Show - coming soon!

Mon, 30 May 2022 01:00:00 +0000

"If we had lost this show, I would have presumed I was jinxed - but, all being well, we're looking at a barnstormer". RHASS chairman Bill Gray has been sharing his thoughts and feelings ahead of the 200th Royal Highland Show this June. Bill's chairmanship has been a rollercoaster ride through the Covid period, but he looks set to end his tenure on a high. We also revisit an episode from 2020, when Bill and Monty explored the history and heritage of RHASS on a tour of Ingliston House.

We hear in this episode:

Farming journalist and writer Andrew Arbuckle

Ken Fletcher, editor of the Scottish Farmer

A short clip from an episode of BBC Scotland's Landward, which can be seen in full at this link: https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m000k75v/landward-2020-episode-10

Mentioned in this episode:

Podcast producers Bespoken Media

All episodes of OnFARM are produced and edited by Scottish podcast production specialists Bespoken Media. Find Bespoken at www.bespoken.media

Highland Showcase and SAYFC in lockdown

Mon, 14 Jun 2021 00:00:02 +0000

In what should be Royal Highland Show week 2021, Monty speaks with SAYFC's Hamish Logan on how Young Farmers have made the best of a difficult and isolated time in lockdown. SAYFC members are gearing up to take centre stage at the Royal Highland Showcase, a series of virtual and online events replacing this year’s Show. We also look back on last year’s 14-part special OnFARM series with RHASS, celebrating the Royal Highland Show and all the Society achieves.

Mentioned in this episode:

Podcast producers Bespoken Media

All episodes of OnFARM are produced and edited by Scottish podcast production specialists Bespoken Media. Find Bespoken at www.bespoken.media

RHASS 14: 'Moving Heaven and Earth' for 2021 Highland Show

Mon, 10 Aug 2020 03:30:21 +0000

Bill Gray and Alan Laidlaw say they will "move heaven and earth" to put on a 2021 Royal Highland Show despite ongoing Covid uncertainty.

The RHASS chairman and chief executive also reflect on weathering 2020's 'perfect storm', and look back on their favourite moments from the last 14 weeks of OnFARM episodes.

Mentioned in this episode:

Podcast producers Bespoken Media

All episodes of OnFARM are produced and edited by Scottish podcast production specialists Bespoken Media. Find Bespoken at www.bespoken.media

RHASS 13: Rural Scotland's Covid Unsung Heroes

Mon, 03 Aug 2020 03:30:08 +0000

This episode is one big THANK YOU to those people across rural Scotland, and the food and drink economy, who’ve gone above and beyond during Covid lockdown. We speak to people who have scrambled to keep their communities fed, given an extra push for charities, or just continued their vital jobs in difficult circumstances.

There are 6 stories in the episode - all people we wanted to say thanks to. It’s not even the tip of the iceberg of people who deserve praise. So please tweet the people you'd like to say thanks to in rural Scotland, using #unsungheroes.

Our thanks to RHASS for partnering with us on this series. This episode hears from:

Veterinary surgeon Kath Dun of Galedin Vets
Kerry Roberts of Ian Roberts Haulage
Ellie Sinclair of VegCo and the volunteer-staffed North East Food Hub
Ann Redpath, author of Lockdown and Lambing - Recipe Book and Memories
Kenny Hope of Pratt Brothers Edinburgh electricians
Lorraine Cavan at RSABI

Mentioned in this episode:

Podcast producers Bespoken Media

All episodes of OnFARM are produced and edited by Scottish podcast production specialists Bespoken Media. Find Bespoken at www.bespoken.media

RHASS 12: History and Heritage of The Highland Society

Mon, 27 Jul 2020 03:30:09 +0000

We look back at the Highland Society’s history all the way back to 1784, on a tour of Ingliston House with RHASS chairman Bill Gray. It's Bill's first visit to the Society's boardroom since the momentous decision to cancel the 2020 Royal Highland Show due to Coronavirus.

For this episode, Monty also speaks to:

Farming journalist and writer Andrew Arbuckle
Ken Fletcher, editor of the Scottish Farmer

There is a short clip of an episode of BBC Scotland's Landward, which is all about RHASS, and can be seen in full at this link: https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m000k75v/landward-2020-episode-10

Mentioned in this episode:

Podcast producers Bespoken Media

All episodes of OnFARM are produced and edited by Scottish podcast production specialists Bespoken Media. Find Bespoken at www.bespoken.media

RHASS 11: Equestrianism and the Love of Horses

Mon, 20 Jul 2020 01:30:12 +0000

Equestrian events attract some of the biggest crowds at the Royal Highland Show, with top show jumpers, displays of Clydesdales, Shetlands and other breeds, as well as the frenetic and joyful activity of the Pony Club Games!

In this episode of OnFARM with RHASS, Anna delves into all things equestrian, and hears from breeders, judges and competitors at the very top of their discipline.

Contributors:

RHASS director Anne Logan
Catriona Willison from the Pony Club
Welsh pony breeder Tom Best from the Waxwing Stud
Highland Pony competitor, steward and judge Jo Jack
Angus and Stephen Lohoar from Drumcarrow Equestrian
Clydesdale breeder Ronnie Black from Newton of Collessie Farm
Farrier Ruaraidh Robb

Mentioned in this episode:

Podcast producers Bespoken Media

All episodes of OnFARM are produced and edited by Scottish podcast production specialists Bespoken Media. Find Bespoken at www.bespoken.media

RHASS 10: The Livestock Ring and the Trophy Room

Mon, 13 Jul 2020 03:30:19 +0000

There is so much time, passion, and painstaking commitment that goes into getting a beast ready for the ring at the Royal Highland Show. It can be the culmination of a life's work and ambition. For those men and women who dedicate their lives to showing stock, there is no feeling to match your animal winning its class. This edition of OnFARM with RHASS hears what it is like firsthand, from some of Scotland's best stockmen and women.

This episode features:

Tracey Nicol from Balthayock Farms
David Tennant, RHASS Competitions Manager
Colin and Alastair Laird
The Runciman family - Rocket, Amanda, Lewis and Libby

Mentioned in this episode:

Podcast producers Bespoken Media

All episodes of OnFARM are produced and edited by Scottish podcast production specialists Bespoken Media. Find Bespoken at www.bespoken.media

RHASS 9: Heritage Skills in the Countryside Area

Mon, 06 Jul 2020 03:30:06 +0000

The Countryside Area is the section of the Royal Highland Show reserved for heritage crafts and traditional skills. It is quieter, and slightly apart from the hustle and bustle of the main showground. You can stop to soak in the sights and experiences, and try your hand at some of the crafts. In this episode of OnFARM with RHASS, Anna meets some of the artisans that exhibit in the Countryside Area, and hears their passion for keeping traditional skills alive.

This episode hears from:

Martin Dare of Rural Projects
Ben Wilde from Archipelago Folk School
Rosie Hazleton from Wild Rose Escapes
Ben Potter from Birds of Prey Displays

Mentioned in this episode:

Podcast producers Bespoken Media

All episodes of OnFARM are produced and edited by Scottish podcast production specialists Bespoken Media. Find Bespoken at www.bespoken.media

RHASS 8: How RHASS Helps - Awards and Support

Mon, 29 Jun 2020 03:30:18 +0000

Ever since it got its Royal Charter in 1784, the Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland (RHASS) has been committed to helping individuals and organisations that improve, encourage, benefit, or otherwise advance rural Scotland. It does this through grants, scholarships, awards and other support. This work is funded in large part from money raised at the Royal Highland Show, and through events and venue hire on the showground at Ingliston.

In this episode of OnFARM, Monty explores the scope of this charitable work. He also asks what RHASS needs from its supporters after the 2020 Show's cancellation, and loss of millions of pounds due to Coronavirus.

This episode hears from:

Alan Laidlaw, RHASS chief executive
Matthew Lambert, sales director of Lambert and Dyson Ltd
Will Charlton, Arable Marketing Manager at Limagrain UK
Penny Montgomerie, Nuffield Farming Scholar and SAYFC chief exec
Geordie Dun and Willie Hill from Campbell of Oxton hauliers
Professor Lee Innes from the Moredun Research Institute for animal health

Mentioned in this episode:

Podcast producers Bespoken Media

All episodes of OnFARM are produced and edited by Scottish podcast production specialists Bespoken Media. Find Bespoken at www.bespoken.media

RHASS 7: Fergus Ewing in conversation with Alan Laidlaw

Thu, 18 Jun 2020 08:11:52 +0000

We are marking the start of what would have been the 2020 Royal Highland Show by hearing from Scotland's Cabinet Secretary for Rural Economy and Tourism, Fergus Ewing MSP. In a wide ranging conversation with RHASS chief executive Alan Laidlaw, the Cabinet Secretary:

- praises the Royal Highland Show as "the fulcrum of rural life in Scotland"
- describes his pride in Scotland's rural communities for their response to Coronavirus, saying farmers "have risen to the occasion"
- urges the UK government to protect farmers against "the flooding of cheaper imports" that would be illegal to produce here.

The first day of the Royal Highland Show, Thursday 18th June, is also National #KeepTalking Day from RSABI. This episode finishes with a call from RHASS president Bill Gray to #phone5 people, stressing the importance to all of staying socially connected, even though you won't see people in person at this year's Show.

Mentioned in this episode:

Podcast producers Bespoken Media

All episodes of OnFARM are produced and edited by Scottish podcast production specialists Bespoken Media. Find Bespoken at www.bespoken.media

RHASS 6: The View From Town

Mon, 15 Jun 2020 03:30:02 +0000

It is Royal Highland Show week! Or it would be in more normal times. In The View From Town, OnFARM explores ways people not directly connected to agriculture still connect and relate to food, farming and the countryside. Anna also speaks with Marks and Spencer's head of agriculture Steven Maclean, and hears from a family of urban visitors to the Royal Highland Show. What draws them back to Ingliston year after year?
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#keeptalking is a national campaign from RSABI, supported by RHASS, OnFARM and others. It is set to culminate with a National #KeepTalking Day on June 18th, which was due to be the first day of the Royal Highland Show. The ask on the day is simple: pick up the phone, and phone 5 people you haven't spoken to in the past six months. Then show you're supporting the campaign by sharing posts and pictures on social media with the hashtags #keeptalking and #phone5. Chances are both you and the people you call will feel better as a result.

This episode hears from:
Caroline Miller from GoRural
Marks and Spencer Head of Agriculture Steve McLeanMargaret Gilmour from Food For Life Scotland / The Soil Association

Mentioned in this episode:

Podcast producers Bespoken Media

All episodes of OnFARM are produced and edited by Scottish podcast production specialists Bespoken Media. Find Bespoken at www.bespoken.media

RHASS 5: The Very Best of Food and Drink

Mon, 08 Jun 2020 03:30:14 +0000

If you are looking for the very best in food and drink, from the finest Scottish producers, the Royal Highland Show is clearly the place to be. The food hall - more properly ‘Scotland’s Larder Live’ - is always one of the Show’s biggest draws. In the absence of a 2020 Show, we have the next best thing. We’ve brought together food and drink experts Wendy Barrie and Charlotte Maberly, with a host of top producers who exhibit and trade at the show. Why does it matter that the Highland Show exists as a food and drink showcase and spectacle?

The Very Best of Food and Drink is episode 5 in our OnFARM series in association with the Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland (RHASS).

This episode also features:

Steve Mitchell from the Buffalo Farm
Valentina Black from Alanda’s Gelato and Seafood
David Equi from Equi’s ice cream
Jill Witheyman from Angus Soft Fruit
Stuart Hood from Hood’s Honey

Please tweet us @On_FarmUK with your thoughts and stories, and please share OnFARM with anyone you think might be interested. All episodes are available at www.podfollow.com/onfarm

Mentioned in this episode:

Podcast producers Bespoken Media

All episodes of OnFARM are produced and edited by Scottish podcast production specialists Bespoken Media. Find Bespoken at www.bespoken.media

RHASS 4: Taking Care of Business

Mon, 01 Jun 2020 03:30:10 +0000

Is there any feeling quite like seeing the gates open on day one of the Royal Highland Show? As a visitor, you have so many trade stands, businesses and people you want to see and hear from. There are never enough hours in the day to get round all the attractions. This episode of OnFARM seeks to replicate that busy day. It's packed full of voices, including some very well known names in Scottish agriculture. We were keen to speak with as many businesses as possible, from machinery sales and estate agency to gin, vodka, seeds and banking. OnFARM's Ross Montague hears Highland Show stories from rural Scotland's business community, and asks how traders are coping during Covid-19 lockdown. There is also exciting news of a 'virtual' Scottish agricultural show taking place later in the summer.

'Taking Care of Business' is episode 4 in our OnFARM series in association with the Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland (RHASS). Taking part are: Royal Bank of Scotland, Watsons Seeds, Dales Agricultural Services, Galbraiths Property Consultancy, Ogilvy Spirits, The Gin Bothy, Macbeths Butchers, and Countryside Refreshments. We also hear from Nuffield Scholar Aled Rhys Jones.

Please tweet us @On_FarmUK with your thoughts and stories, and please share OnFARM with anyone you think might be interested. All episodes are available at www.podfollow.com/onfarm

Mentioned in this episode:

Podcast producers Bespoken Media

All episodes of OnFARM are produced and edited by Scottish podcast production specialists Bespoken Media. Find Bespoken at www.bespoken.media

RHASS 3: Home schooling with RHET

Mon, 25 May 2020 03:30:20 +0000

Anna speaks with Katrina Barclay from the Royal Highland Education Trust. Since the start of COVID-19, RHET's work has quickly adapted, to focus on supporting parents, families and teachers to deliver lockdown home-schooling. But while the delivery method has changed, the charity's purpose is just as it has been for over 20 years: to help children and young people in Scotland to understand where the food on their plate comes from, as well as the importance of healthy eating.
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RHET is the education charity of the Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland, who are OnFARM's partners in producing this summer series of podcasts. Please get in touch if you'd like to feature in future episodes. Please tweet @On_FARMUK.

Mentioned in this episode:

Podcast producers Bespoken Media

All episodes of OnFARM are produced and edited by Scottish podcast production specialists Bespoken Media. Find Bespoken at www.bespoken.media

RHASS 2: Meet You In the Usual Place

Mon, 18 May 2020 03:30:13 +0000

For many, the Royal Highland Show is their one big chance each year to get together with friends, and to re-connect with people they don't otherwise manage to see. This time, OnFARM is exploring the importance of those 4 summer days at Ingliston for social connection and mental wellbeing. Anna is joined by Nina Clancy from RSABI, and Professor Sarah Skerratt, who has done lots of academic research on mental health in rural communities. This is episode 2 of an OnFARM series in partnership with the Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland (RHASS).
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Please get in touch if you'd like to feature in future episodes. Are you using RHET online resources to help with your family's home-schooling under lockdown? We are also looking for stories of rural or farm-based businesses who have adapted to Coronavirus. We'd love to hear from you. Please tweet @On_FARMUK.

Mentioned in this episode:

Podcast producers Bespoken Media

All episodes of OnFARM are produced and edited by Scottish podcast production specialists Bespoken Media. Find Bespoken at www.bespoken.media

RHASS 1: The Difficult Decision to Cancel

Mon, 11 May 2020 03:30:19 +0000

Have you got a Highland Show-shaped gap in your life? This summer, OnFARM are teaming up with the Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland (RHASS) to bring you a celebration of rural Scotland, and all that we'll miss now that the show is sadly cancelled. In weeks to come, we'll hear from regular visitors, businesses, competitors, and many others. But in this first episode in the series, chairman Bill Gray and chief executive Alan Laidlaw re-live the difficult decision to cancel this year's Highland Show.
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We want your stories for future episodes. Do you have a special memory of the Highland Show, or a particular friend you'll miss seeing this year because you only meet once a year at Ingliston? We are also looking for inspiring stories of rural communities and businesses who have adapted to life under Coronavirus lockdown. Please tweet @On_FARMUK. We'd love to hear from you.

Mentioned in this episode:

Podcast producers Bespoken Media

All episodes of OnFARM are produced and edited by Scottish podcast production specialists Bespoken Media. Find Bespoken at www.bespoken.media

RHET / welcome to OnFARM

Sun, 05 Jan 2020 22:00:02 +0000

70,000 children in Scotland benefit each year from the work of RHET - the Royal Highland Education Trust. RHET take children onto farms, and bring farmers into schools, to help young people aged 3 to 18 to understand more about where our food comes from. For this first ever edition of OnFARM, Anna Davies joins John Sinclair, owner of Craigies Farm Shop and Cafe, as he leads children on a RHET tour. Also taking part in this episode are primary school teacher Emmie Petrie, and RHET learning and development coordinator Sara Smith.

Mentioned in this episode:

Podcast producers Bespoken Media

All episodes of OnFARM are produced and edited by Scottish podcast production specialists Bespoken Media. Find Bespoken at www.bespoken.media

Royal Highland Show 2023: OnFARM round-up

Thu, 29 Jun 2023 05:00:00 +0000

From the cattle ring to the Highland Hall, the machinery lines and everywhere inbetween, Monty and Dave cover as much of the action at Ingliston as can be crammed into one episode of OnFARM.

Among many others, we catch up with the Sheep Game's Cammy Wilson, celebrate the Highland Pony Society's centenary with president Sylvia Ormiston, and check in with veteran Kelso stockman Keith Redpath ahead of his prestigious task of judging the beef interbreed teams.

To listen to last week's Golden Shears 2023 World Shearing Championships episode, and all previous episodes featuring the Highland Show, RHASS, or RHET, please select this link.

We'll publish an episode soon specifically on SAYFC action from the Highland Show. Please be patient for that one - it'll be great when it arrives!

This episode of OnFARM is kindly supported by Scottish legal firm Gillespie Macandrew.

Mentioned in this episode:

Podcast producers Bespoken Media

All episodes of OnFARM are produced and edited by Scottish podcast production specialists Bespoken Media. Find Bespoken at www.bespoken.media

150th episode Highland Show 'Pitch a Pod' competition

Mon, 10 Jul 2023 03:00:00 +0000

OnFARM's 150th episode! To celebrate this milestone, we gave Highland Show go-ers the chance to pitch us their ideas for future podcast subjects. Hear our shortlist of the ideas that we heard, and find out which lucky winner will get their own future episode, to be sponsored by our partners Bell Ingram.

Who will get their own future OnFARM episode? Contenders include:

100 years of the Highland Pony Society

100 years since the first Scottish Young Farmers' Club was founded, in Caithness

Stranraer Show

Vertical farming with The Rowett Institute

Sustainable seafood with the Rowett Institute

Pickups for Peace, a farmer-led charity taking trucks and supplies in convoy to Ukraine

The Perthshire team making and exporting lifesize plastic cows around the world

Episode kindly supported by Bell Ingram

Mentioned in this episode:

Podcast producers Bespoken Media

All episodes of OnFARM are produced and edited by Scottish podcast production specialists Bespoken Media. Find Bespoken at www.bespoken.media