FIELDS across the west of Scotland have been adorned with decorated bales of hay, straw and silage this week, as part of a campaign to promote Scottish young farmers, with some entries also promoting local businesses and events.

Entries came from SAYFC’s Ayrshire, Lanarkshire, Clyde and Central and Dumfries and Galloway districts and, in total, 18 clubs took part, with one winner being selected from each district.

Former west area chairman, Sheena Foster, who helped judge C and C’s entries, said: “We only had to judge three entries, but they were all really great, original ideas, so it was hard to pick one overall, but we got there in the end, after a lot of deliberation!”

I myself was asked to judge the Lanarkshire district’s entries, and I could not believe the quality of each entry, and it was indeed very difficult to choose a winner.

Speaking about the purpose of the competition, current west area chairman, Suzie Dunn, explained: “Some young farmers clubs in the D and G area created bale art last year as a new competition, and to promote young farmers, and I thought we should adopt the idea and use it across the whole of the west area.

“Our new competition has hit the ground running.

“I’m absolutely over the moon with the uptake and efforts from all the clubs. It’s a pretty unique way to promote and advertise young farmers, and what we are all about.”

On continuing the competition, Miss Dunn added: “The sky is the limit, and hopefully next year I can make it even better and take a similar competition to national level, and show all of Scotland what young farmers are capable of!”

Pictured here are the four district winners and some other bale art entries, while all the other entries can be found on our website. The overall west area winner will be announced on Sunday, October 9.

You can view all of the entries in the above photo gallery.