EMMA STANIFORTH, a 34-year-old forestry apprentice from Dumfries, has been named as the overall winner of the 2017 Land-based and Aquaculture Learner of the Year Awards.

Finalists, joined by their families and teachers, gathered in Dunblane last week to hear the results of 13 award categories across the agriculture, aquaculture, equine, horticulture, game and wildlife, trees and timber, land-based engineering, fisheries management and environmental conservation industries.

This was the 15th year of the awards, which are organised by Lantra Scotland, the sector skills council for the land-based industries, whose director Kevin Patrick said: “Our awards recognise the achievements of Scotland’s top learners, their employers and training providers, and highlight the important contribution they make to our economy, particularly in rural areas.

“Land-based, aquaculture and environmental conservation industries offer a wide range of rewarding career opportunities and our prestigious event celebrates the hard work and incredible talents of everyone involved."

The awards were presented by farmer and TV presenter Adam Henson, who stressed the importance of fostering new talent to ensure a lasting future for Scotland’s food and drink sector and the wider rural economy.

“It’s inspiring to see such talented people getting the support of employers and training providers as they start their careers within these key industries," said Mr Henson. “It really is a fantastic achievement and I’m sure winning these awards will be great for their prospects and their self-confidence.”

The finalists for the 2017 awards were chosen by a judging panel drawn from across the land-based and aquaculture sectors – former Scotland Food and Drink chairman Ray Jones, rural affairs journalist Erika Hay, Forestry Commission Scotland's Keith Paterson, farmer Keith Redpath, The Scottish Salmon Company's Lisa Connell and the Scottish Association of Young Farmers Clubs' Rebecca Dawes.

Mr Jones commented: “Every year the judges are inspired by the enthusiasm, vitality and determination to succeed that our candidates demonstrate. These learners can be going into difficult employment markets and being a finalist or even getting nominated in Lantra’s Land-based and Aquaculture Learner of the Year awards can help them get a foothold into a long-term and rewarding career.”

Overall winner Emma has been doing a Modern Apprenticeship in General Woodland and Treework with Forest Enterprise Scotland, and won in her sector category, the Trees and Timber Learner of the Year Award. She began her SVQ with no prior knowledge of forestry, and went on to gain certificates in the use of forestry equipment at her first attempt. Her ambition is to own some woodland, either privately or through community ownership, and use it as a teaching centre for community groups.

The overall runner-up spot went to Stuart McKinlay, a 22-year-old fisheries management apprentice from Deanston in Stirling, who had previously won the Fisheries Management and Environmental Conservation category.

The Agriculture Learner of the Year winner was Jakob Eunson from Shetland, who is doing a Modern Apprenticeship in Livestock Production through Train Shetland, while working at Uradale Farm in Scalloway. Agriculture runner up was Matthew Douglas from Hawick, who is doing a Modern Apprenticeship in Mixed Farming through Borders College, while working at Harwood on Teviot for WS Davies and Son.

Matthew, along with agriculture student Katie Dubarry from Edinburgh, who is doing a BSc in Agriculture at SRUC Oatridge Campus in West Lothian, were winners of the prestigious Council for Awards of Agricultural Societies award.

The Modern Apprentice of the Year Award went to Jack Fraser, a 22-year-old Aquaculture Modern Apprentice from Caol near Fort William.

A newcomer to the Lantra awards this year was the Tam Tod Trophy, which was awarded to Alasdair Davidson, an 18-year-old Game and Wildlife apprentice from Fort William. The trophy was awarded in association with Countryside Learning Scotland in memory of the late Tam Tod, described as a well-loved gamekeeper, ghillie and lifelong friend of the countryside. Runner-up for the award was Fraser MacDonald.

The Land-based Service Engineering award went to Stephen Moore from Inverkip, who is doing a Modern Apprenticeship SVQ Level 2 and 3 in Land-based Engineering at SRUC Oatridge Campus, while working as an Apprentice Engineer for Hamilton Brothers in Bishopton – where his employer, Ken Smyth, described him as “an essential member of staff”.

Engineering runner-up was 20-year-old Thomas Perfect, from Penrith in Cumbria, who is doing an Advanced Certificate in Land-based Technology at SRUC Barony Campus, while working as an Agricultural Engineering Apprentice at Rickerby Ltd in Penrith.

The Higher Education Learner of the Year Award went to Kati Michalek from Oban, who is currently undertaking a PhD in Shellfish Aquaculture in Oban through the Scottish Association for Marine Science and the University of the Highlands and Islands. Her work is part of a bigger European project aiming to provide new insights into how bivalves like mussels, scallops, oysters and clams, will cope with climate change. Runner up was Megan Simpson from Aberfoyle, who has completed an HNC and HND in Equine Studies at SRUC Oatridge Campus.

The Rural Schools Award, which is supported by the Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland in recognition of schools with exceptional standards in rural skills training, was won by Ullapool High School and Breadalbane Academy.

The Jean’s Jam Award, in recognition of the efforts of mentors and trainers across Scotland, was awarded to David Olds of North Highland College UHI. The prize was donated by training instructor Elspeth Watson in memory of her friend Jean Costello to recognise the mentor judged by land-based and aquaculture learner of the year finalists to be the most inspiring.