Eight shortlisted for Lantra learner of the year award

The finalists are Caitlin Ross, Cameron Howie, Dr Jenna Ross, Claire Simonetta, Kieran Paxton, Mathew Howie, Robert Pickford and Sine Soszka.

• Caitlin, 21, from Loch Lomond, has completed an HND in agriculture at SRUC, and is now working full-time on the family farm. She recently featured in the Scottish Government video, Women in Agriculture, and met First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, at the Royal Highland Show. She is a member of the Loch Lomond branch of the Scottish Association of Young Farmers Clubs, and is now involved in the Rural Agricultural Affairs Committee. On her nomination, she said: “It’s a great honour to be shortlisted for a Lantra Award, and I’m delighted about it. Winning would be the icing on the cake, and a great reward for all the hard work I’ve put into juggling my HND education with family life and work. I would like to thank my lecturers for believing in me, and helping push me forward!”
• Dr Ross, 32, is a fellow at the University of Aberdeen, and Stellenbosch University, in South Africa, and is in the process of completing an MBA through Robert Gordon University. She is on track to become one of the top 10 highest achieving MBA graduates since the course began, more than 20 years ago. As part of her MBA studies, she completed a business plan to spin out her bio-molluscicide research into a commercial business solution, in 2017. Other modules on her MBA have included strategic management, people management and organisational development. She commented: “I am absolutely over the moon to be shortlisted for a Lantra award. It really caps off a fantastic year, and makes all the hard work worthwhile. It is also a great opportunity to highlight the advances in the bio-pesticide industry, and promote women in agriculture. I was also recently selected as the 2018 Royal Highland Agricultural Society of Scotland and Agricultural Horticultural Development Board Cereals and Oilseeds Nuffield Farming Scholar. This is a huge honour, which will see me travelling the globe to find a solution to slug pests in the UK.”
• Claire, 26, is from the Isle of Mull. She recently completed a BSc Hons 1st Class degree in agriculture at SRUC, and is now working as a farmer and agricultural consultant. While at college, she won the RHASS silver medal, a prize for being the best agriculture honours degree student at SRUC, across all campuses, and the Watson Peat Trophy, for being the best honours student at the Ayr Campus. Claire said: “I wasn’t expecting to get nominated, so to be shortlisted is a lovely surprise. In my five years’ involvement with agriculture, I have always been open-minded and keen to learn. I am extremely passionate about this field, not just in my own business, but also beyond. I would like to dedicate my life to helping others within the industry with the aim of creating a fairer, better future for Scottish farmers.”
• Kieran, 19, from Jedburgh, has been doing an SVQ Level 3 in mixed farming, through Borders College, while working for WE Sanderson. His first experience of agriculture was when his family moved to the country and his mother got a job as housekeeper on a farm, and he soon began helping Neil Ralston at Edgerston Home Farm at nights and weekends. After school, he applied for the NC in agriculture at Borders College, before progressing onto the apprenticeship scheme. He expressed his delight at being nominated, and commented: “I’m grateful to be shortlisted for a Lantra award. It would be great to win this accolade, like other Borders students have done in the past. I plan to stay in agriculture and eventually run a farm of my own, so winning something like this would definitely help my career. Farming is a way of life, not just a job, and it is something that is important, not only to me, but to our whole region.”
• Nineteen-year-old Robert, from Jedburgh, has been doing a modern apprenticeship in agriculture, through Borders College, while working for TDC Thomson. He has also completed an NC in agriculture, and won a prize for being best practical student. Over the next few years, Robert would like to continue working at Caverton Mill Farm, developing his skills and taking on a managerial role. He has ambitions to explore new opportunities for the family farm, including diversification projects. Robert said: “It’s great to be short-listed for an award like this. It will give me the confidence and self-belief to make a success in the farming sector, and I’m really looking forward to the award ceremony in March.”
• Sine Soszka, 18, from Dornoch, has been doing a modern apprenticeship in agriculture, through SRUC, while working at Fearn Farms, for J Scott and Partners. She has been there for more than two years and currently leads the indoor lambing team, looking after 800 stud ewes. “I’m delighted to be shortlisted for a Lantra Award. I’m passionate about what I do and not even the weather can put me off. I think it helps that I have a supportive team at Fearn Farms and I adore working with the sheep, cattle and my beloved dogs," she commented.
• Cameron, aged 18, and from Mauchline, in Ayrshire, is doing a modern apprenticeship in land-based engineering, through SRUC, while working for John H. McNae Ltd. His strong performance earned him the top student award at Barony College, the BAGMA shield. Cameron said: “I’m very happy to be shortlisted for a Lantra award. It’s always nice to be recognised for your efforts and this gives me the confidence that I have made the right career choice. I’d like to thank my employers at John H. McNae, and tutors at Barony College for all their continued help and support.”
• Mathew, aged 21, and from Maybole, in Ayrshire, has recently completed a modern apprenticeship in land-based engineering through SRUC, while working for James Walker. He has been interested in engineering from a young age, building up experience on his uncle’s farm. At the age of 15, Mathew was faced with the choice of a football scholarship in America, or a full-time engineering apprenticeship closer to home, but the apprenticeship won. Mathew said: “It is great to be recognised in this way, and to be shortlisted for a Lantra award is an achievement. Of course, it would be great to win, not only for me, but also my boss James Walker, and the tutors and lecturers on the apprenticeship programme, who have invested so much in me. These awards are as much about them as about us.”

MC and host for the award ceremony will be farmer and stand-up comedian, Jim Smith. He will be joined by main speaker, Dougie Vipond, who is a TV presenter of sports and outdoors programmes, and founder member and drummer of Deacon Blue.

Last year’s overall winner, Emma Staniforth, will also talk about the difference the award has made to her career, and her role as one of Lantra’s industry champions.

The finalists for the awards were chosen by an independent judging panel, made up of figures from across the land-based and aquaculture sector: former chairman of Scotland Food and Drink, Ray Jones; agriculture and rural affairs journalist, Erika Hay; Keith Paterson of Forestry Commission Scotland; farmer, Keith Redpath; Lisa Connell of The Scottish Salmon Company; and Rebecca Dawes, of Jane Craigie Marketing.

Lantra Scotland director, Kevin Patrick, commented: "These awards continue to play an important role in communicating the value of gaining qualifications, and developing skills, as well as highlighting the achievements of new entrants.

"All of our nominees, whether selected as finalists or not, should be extremely proud and we look forward to celebrating their success."

Since the awards were launched in 2004, there have been more than1000 nominees, and 300 finalists.

Tickets for the evening are available from Lantra, on 01738 310164, or, scotland@lantra.co.uk. See also www.lantra.co.uk/Scotland/tickets.