ANOTHER bumper line-up of exhibits gave showgoers plenty to look at in the Young Farmers' Centre as clubs and members of the Scottish Association of Young Farmers' Clubs put their skills on show.

With the National finals tug-of-war finals and Stockman of the Year competitions continuing to be highlights of the Saturday programme, this year welcomed the pinnacle of the association's newest competition – Young Farmer of the Year.

As well as plenty to see and do inside the YF centre, clubs competed in the final of the ready, steady, country cook/Scotch Kitchen competition on the Quality Meat Scotland stand, and key industry individuals – including NFU Scotland president, Andrew McCornick, QMS chief executive, Alan Clarke, and The Scottish Farmer's editor, Ken Fletcher – took part in a highly popular tractor pool karaoke which kept the crowds entertained.

There was an impressive array of arts and crafts boxes on display where the top ticket in the lights, camera, action-themed senior section when to Avondale YFC with 131 points thanks to entries from Samantha Brown, Emily Hermon, Caroline Hamilton, Matthew Drummond, Karen Moore and Iona Hamilton. In second with 127 points was Biggar YFC while, keeping the prizes in the West, Kilmaurs YFC secured third with 126 ½ points.

There was further success for Kilmaurs YFC when Karen Shepherd, Karen Shepherd, Beth Kerr and Olivia Young notched up 94 points to with the junior section, which had the theme 80 years of SAYFC. Second here with 92 points was Peeblesshire JAC while just a point behind to pick up third was Ayr YFC.

There was a strong entry of hand-made kists in the craftmanship competition which saw a beautifully finished show box from Lisa Dunbar, of Annandale YFC, win the senior section while Turriff JAC's Fraser Chapman won the juniors.

Regular attendees of the Highland Show and the three regions' talent competitions will be no stranger to Allan Gray who was presented the Ritchie Trophy to recognise a significant contribution to the association. Allan has been a Young Farmers enthusiast for years and a past chairman of the North Region, so it is fitting he was recognised.

On the Quality Meat Scotland stand, Jodie Jackson and Emily Baillie triumphed to take the trophy home to the ground of Brechin YFC, while East Fife JAC was crowned Club of the Year.

There was a strong entry in the photography section where Laura Doulls, from Halkirk YFC, won the senior section and West Renfrewshire YFC member, Emma Johnstone, was the best of the juniors.

John Brown, from Strichen JAC, dominated the sheep shearing section having topped his Scotch Mule qualifying round to take the lead with a total score of 32.850, compared to Billy Gray, from Crossroads YFC, who scored 36.150 and SSS YFC's David Brown in third with 38.550.

LEADING awards:

Junior arts and crafts ('80 years of SAYFC') – 1, Kilmaurs YFC, 94 points, Karen Shepherd, Karen Shepherd, Beth Kerr and Olivia Young; 2, Peeblesshire JAC, 92 points, Mairi Wallace, Alyssa Davidson, Kirsty Smellie and Eilidh McSporran; 3, Ayr YFC, 91 points, Claire Wilson, Laura Paton, Katie Howat, Brooke Welsh, Lauren Limond and Shona Andrew. Special prizes – Celebration card – Karen Shepherd, Kilmaurs YFC. Sewn article – Karen Shepherd, Kilmaurs YFC. Floral arrangement – Mairi Wallace, Peeblesshire JAC. Further article – Kirsty Smellie, Peeblesshire JAC. Appearance and display – Olivia Young and Karen Shepherd, Kilmaurs YFC.

Senior arts and crafts (Lights, camera, action') – 1, Avondale YFC, 131 points, Samantha Brown, Emily Hermon, Caroline Hamilton, Matthew Drummond, Karen Moore and Iona Hamilton; 2, Biggar YFC, 127, Louise Neilands, Alyson Henderson, Jane Donald, John Kerr, Samantha Erskine and Claire Black; 3, Kilmaurs YFC, 126 ½ points, Emma Scott, Laura Scott, Kim Erskine, Olivia Young, Patricia Scott and Victoria Cuthbertson. Special prizes – Film poster – Emma Scott, Kilmaurs YFC. Six canapés – Mairi Cullen, Lanark YFC. Sewn article – Kate Donald, Callander YFC 'A'. Film award/trophy – Stuart Walker, Reston YFC. Flower arrangement – Emma Gray, Peeblesshire JAC. Further article – Iona Hamilton, Avondale YFC. Appearance and display – Jane Donald and Alyson Henderson, Biggar YFC.

Ready, steady, country cook – 1, Brechin YFC, Jodie Jackson and Emily Baillie; 2, SSS YFC, Kirsty Warnock and Sarah Jane Urquhart.

Craftsmanship (kist) – Senior – 1, Lisa Dunbar, Annandale YFC; 2, Matthew Drummond, Avondale YFC; 3, Lewis Gallier, Udny JAC. Junior – 1, Fraser Chapman, Turriff JAC.

Photography – ('Life through a lens') – Junior – 1, Emma Johnstone, West Renfrewshire YFC; 2, Mhairi Hall, Carluke YFC; 3, Dan Marsh, East Kilbride YFC. Senior – 1 and 3, Laura Doull, Halkirk YFC; 2, Jane Donald, Biggar YFC.

Ritchie Trophy – Allan Gray.

Member recruitment – Club – 1, Biggar YFC 2, West Renfrewshire YFC; 3, Machars YFC. District – 1, Lanarkshire; 2, Dumfries and Galloway; 3, Clyde and Central.

District participation – 1, Caithness; 2, Border Federation; 3, Angus Tayside.

Club of the Year – 1, East Fife JAC; 2, Strathearn JAC; 3, Halkirk YFC.

Sheep shearing – Scotch Mule (three hoggs) – 1, John Brown, Strichen JAC (15 board, 33 pen, 4min7, 28.350 total score); 2, David Brown, SSS YFC (8, 38, 4.48, 29.734); 3, Billy Gray, Crossroads YFC (7, 26, 7.13, 32.650). Blackface (three) – 1, Cameron Wilson, Kilmaurs YFC (18, 51, 4.36, 36.800); 2, Ben Wight, Biggar YFC (12, 55, 6.15, 41.083); 3, William Ballantyne, Teviotdale (21, 53, 6.15, 43.417). Final (four) – John Brown, Strichen JAC (21, 43, 5.37, 32.850); 2, Billy Gray, Crossroads YFC (6, 34, 8.43, 36.150); 3, David Brown, YFC (11, 64, 6.36, 38.550).