THE QMS team will be pulling out all the stops next week to make the most of the opportunity the Royal Highland Show offers to showcase our industry and its brands, writes QMS chairman, Jim McLaren.
The event offers an unrivalled opportunity to show the public the work, skills and dedication which go into the production of Scotch Beef, Scotch Lamb and Specially Selected Pork.
Visitors to the QMS stand will be able to be part of a range of activities – from butchery demonstrations to cooking demonstrations. There will also be a range of new interactive activities for families in our new education area, where the key messages will include animal welfare, the red meat industry’s great sustainability message and red meat’s role in a healthy diet.
Our stand will also host meetings with buyers from key retailers and showcase a range of promotion materials along with chiller meat displays.
BBC Radio Scotland presenter Bryan Burnett will be with us for show week and the irrepressible Lady Claire Macdonald will be entertaining the crowds in our cookery theatre on Thursday and Friday. 
Jamie Scott, BBC MasterChef: The Professionals winner who has recently launched his own restaurant The Newport, will take over the reins on Saturday and Sunday.
Scottish singer and television presenter Michelle McManus, who rose to fame after winning the UK talent show Pop Idol, will be on the stand on Thursday at 1pm for the final of our ‘My Town, My Burger’ schools burger competition when she will also be singing to entertain the youngsters.
Additionally, around 1000 children will have a chance to cook simple, nutritious dishes with beef, pork and lamb at the show. QMS works with the Royal Highland Education Trust (RHET) to deliver this initiative which takes place in the Scotch Beef Children’s Cookery Theatre at the Discovery Centre.
The Watson family, winners of Scotch Beef Farm of the Year, will be on the stand at 12.30 on Thursday to take questions from the public and Joyce Campbell and the Armadale team, winners of the Scottish Sheep Farm of the Year, will be taking part in a similar ‘Audience with…’ at 12.30pm on Saturday.
On Friday we’ll be welcoming the stars of two very popular BBC Series onto the stand with ‘An audience with…’ ANM auctioneer, Colin Slessor, from BBC’s The Mart, at 11.15pm on Friday and a reunion of the stars of ‘This Farming Life’ on the stand at 2.20pm on Saturday.
On Saturday at 2pm we’ll be joining in the 40th anniversary celebrations of BBC Landward and welcoming presenters Sarah Mack and Euan Mcilwraith for a ready, steady, cook-off on our stand featuring Scotch Beef and Scotch Lamb.
New this year will be a pie masterclass at 2.15pm, on Sunday conducted by Paul and Christine Boyle, of Boghall Butchers, in West Lothian, who have also developed a special Royal Highland Show 2016 pie, packed with top quality ingredients from show exhibitors, including Scotch Lamb PGI.
Our Scotch Beef brand mascot will be joined by two new mascots for Scotch Lamb and Specially Selected Pork this year giving away goodies including branded selfie sticks and a special Scotch Kitchen magazine packed with recipe ideas. There will also be the chance to win the much sought after limited edition Royal Highland Show 2016 Scotch Beef t-shirts.
The Royal Highland Show is a livestock farming spectacle like no other anywhere in the world and we look forward to seeing you there!