FORMER YOUNG Farmers clubs Carse of Gowrie JAC & Perth JAC have take the decision to merge and form new club 'Banks of Tay YFC'.

It is hoped the collaboration will heighten the Young Farmers experience offered to the rural youth living and working within the Tay ‘banks’ of Perthshire.

An emergency meeting was called by the Perth JAC committee in February of 2020, following years of poor turnout and support for the club – which had been established in 1943.

Late 2020, the option to merge with the former Carse of Gowrie club was reviewed again by Perth JAC with SAYFC Young Farmers stepping in to assist the club in these discussions. The proposal to merge with the ‘neighbours’ was met with approval, with The Carse of Gowrie JAC committee agreeing it would make financial and social sense.

The new committee includes chairman Richard Young, vice-chair Cameron Patterson, secretary George Hamilton, joint assistant secretaries Charlotte Patterson and Jess Brown, treasurer Lewis Aitchison, assistant treasurer Ross Messenger, club leader Cameron Pitcaithly and club president Kenneth Patterson.

Chairman Richard Young moved to Scotland six years ago, leaving his former YFC club and friends behind in Northumberland. He explained how he quickly found new friends by joining his local SAYF club: commented: " I looked up the SAYFC website and got in touch with my closest club ‘Carse of Gowrie JAC’ and upon that first meeting I was accepted and met a new group of friends immediately. My advice for any person thinking about joining Young Farmers is please get in touch with us and we will be happy to welcome you into this fantastic organisation. SAYFC has helped me so much in life by giving me more confidence in public speaking, as well as a group of friends which will stay with me for life.

Commenting on his new appointment as chair he added: "Being asked to be chairman of any club is a proud moment for any Young Farmer. To be asked to be the first chairman of a new club is an immensely proud and unique moment for myself. I promise to do my best for the club as we go forward. Anyone thinking of joining please get in touch and come along to a meeting. You will not regret it."

Former Perth JAC chairman Stuart Cameron, who held the role between 1965 and 1966, said: “I suppose I joined Young Farmers so that I could meet other young people in the industry. It was great to meet and learn from others, plus enjoy the fun of the social atmosphere at the dances. It’s a tremendous movement for rural folk, starting during the war - still going strong now! It’s brilliant that Perthshire clubs are helping each other to ensure the groups in the area move positively into the future.”