By Lizzie McJannet,

SAYFC West Region chairman

BEING asked to write an opinion piece on Young Farmers is quite a task to put into words.

Add in a suggestion to write about ‘what you know’ while working to a deadline and I was filled with trepidation! It’s often said that some people thrive on working to a deadline however I can’t say I’m one of them. Particularly while the sun shines on another glorious day during my summer holidays.

These school holidays have been filled with a spell of sunshine that has lasted much longer than any I can remember and while my dad and brother are secretly wishing for a wee bit of rain to bring on the next cut of silage, I can’t help but enjoy it.

Being brought up on a family dairy farm running 150 milking cows and followers over 360 acres the summer holidays as a child often resulted in a list of jobs for myself and my two siblings. After all, six weeks of extra labour was not to be sniffed at. While this was a break from standard school work and lessons it was an education of an entirely different sort.

Education is an area I am passionate about hence my move from school to university to complete a Bachelor of Education degree before taking up a post at Ayr Grammar Primary School where I have been teaching for the past six years. Within this large town centre school hosting 360 pupils I have tried to bring the countryside to life for these youngsters.

Along with introducing the school to RHET, I often share with the children stories and images from daily and seasonal life on the farm. Mainly these lessons have been well received apart from the time when I took some silage and various other feeding samples into school. The distinct whiff could be detected down the corridors for days, much to the janitor’s disgust!

While school life offers so much to young people and is a job I am whole heartily passionate about I am not complacent about the education the Young Farmers movement provides through life skills and experiences which cannot always be delivered in a school setting.

This year I have taken on the role of West Regional chairman. Before this I was secretary for Ayr and District Young Farmers Club and latterly Ayrshire District secretary. All of these roles have taught me valuable life skills on being organised, managing my time efficiently, developing good communication skills and on many occasions has thrown me completely out of my comfort zone.

The same can be said for any member who takes on any role in Young Farmers, whether at committee, club or district level. It is often a time you won’t forget and teaches you skills you will never lose.

Curriculum for excellence aims to create young people who are responsible citizens, confident individuals, effective contributors and successful learners. These four capacities are embedded in the SAYFC strategic plan as it also forms the core of the organisation.

One aspect of Young Farmers which meets all of these aims is the international travel programme. I have been lucky enough to have been able to take part in several travel opportunities through Young Farmers. The first to Finland as a young junior member to a 4H camp. The second to Poland for a European Rally. The third to the south of England on a week-long sailing trip. And rather greedily the forth will be to South Africa on Safari which I am currently enjoying.

Each of these trips were excellent in their own right and allowed me to meet a varied group of vibrant and charismatic members.

It is the enjoyment I gained from these trip that drove me to try and provide something a little different for our West junior members this year. This takes the form of a brand new opportunity called the 'West Junior Weekend'. With space for 20 participants across the west this weekend is the first of its kind run by SAYFC.

The weekend runs from November 2-4, 2018, and is being held at Lockerbie Manor Adventure Centre. It has been generously supported by the Ellen Kerr Award Scheme which helps to provide clubs with financial support to undertake activities and progress their clubs further.

With a varied agenda of high ropes, zip lines and kayaking it’s an exciting prospect for the lucky members attending. The main aim of the weekend has personal development of members and building wider social networks at its core and I urge any junior members to head to the SAYFC website to sign up before the deadline of August 6.

These core values are also transferred onto many other YF events and competitions. From cattle dressing, speechmaking, sports, concerts and handicrafts to name a few. The skills developed by members are immeasurable. Consequently, through the provision of courses such as first aid, cultivating leaders and through the Agri and Rural Affairs committee, Young Farmers has such a breath of experiences, opportunities and knowledge at member’s finger tips.

Within the classroom I can certainly teach the skills and knowledge behind literacy, numeracy, science, French, technologies, social studies and many other curricular areas. I can also try to shape and nurture young people to become confident, successful and well-rounded.

What I can’t do is provide the amazing endless opportunities Young Famers can. I can’t build a social circle which goes on for years and has fun, commitment and teamwork as its base. Therefore, I truly believe Young Farmers offers a unique education all of its own.