Two Scottish Young Farmers’ Burns Supper events have raised £100,000 in support of The Scottish Association of Young Farmers Clubs’ (SAYFC’s) ‘Big Build’ campaign.
This has brought the total funding for The Big Build to £900,000, with 100% of the funds going directly towards the campaign to build a new permanent home for SAYFC at the Royal Highlands Showground.
An grand total of £70,000 was raised at the West event hosted by tomato grower Jim Shanks from Standhill Farm.
A further £30,000 was raised at the East event hosted by SAYFC chair, Jillian Kennedy, and former NFU Scotland president, Martin Kennedy.
The Big Build will create a dedicated hub where young people can connect, collaborate and feel part of the wider rural community, according to the SAYFC.
The facility will provide a central base for events, training, and social opportunities, ensuring that Scotland’s Young Farmers have a permanent home all year round.
East Burns Supper
The East Burns Supper was attended by First Minister John Swinney, who reinforced the Scottish government’s continued support for young people in agriculture and rural development.
The funds were generated through a combination of ticket sales, generous donations, sponsorship, raffles and an online silent auction.
Auction prizes for winners ranged from tickets to adventure experiences to opportunities to strengthen herds with top-quality genetics.
One auction prize was generously donated by tomato grower Jim Shanks, who offered the unique experience of a one-hour private flight in his aircraft, which proved hugely popular on the night.
Penny Montgomerie, chief executive of SAYFC, said: “The Burns Suppers were an incredible success and a real testament to the strength of our young farming community.
Raising £100,000 has taken us comfortably beyond the halfway mark towards our overall target. We remain firmly on track and the momentum behind The Big Build continues to grow stronger.”
She went on to say that it has been a truly collective effort from everyone involved, saying that every donation and contribution brings them closer to creating a permanent home that will have lasting impacts for generations of young farmers to come.
