THE SCOTTISH Association of Young Farmers Clubs (SAYFC) is pushing for the final portion of funding required for their “Big Build”.
The association plans to construct a new building on the Royal Highland Showground, in Ingliston, to replace their old headquarters, which had been condemned by architects.
The old HQ has now been demolished, and construction of the new facility is expected to begin in autumn this year, with hopes that it could be ready for next year’s Highland Show.
Euan Bremner, National Chair of the association, expressed his pride at the fundraising campaign – having raised £1m in under a year – and was confident the association could raise the remaining amount – between £500k and £1m – in the coming months.
(LEFT TO RIGHT): SAYFC President, Sheena Munro, SAYFC National Vice Chair, Anne Craig, and SAYFC National Vice Chair, John Smith.
The new building will provide a year-round base for the nation’s Young Farmers, doubling as a social hub – to help tackle rural isolation – and an events and office space.
At this year’s Highland Show, the Young Farmers are attempting to put the boosters on their final fundraising round, with a quad bike raffle, various competitions and events, while members have been travelling round industry stands at the show attempting to solicit donations.
The Scottish Government provided £98,000 in funding for the effort, while substantial backing also came from the International Trust – the international association of young farmers, and the Ingliston Trust, which owns the buildings on the showground.
SAYFC President, Sheena Munro, while staffing the desk for the Young Farmers’ tent on the Royal Highland Showground, said: “There’s a lot of rural charities which can hopefully be hosted within the Young Farmers centre, so that gives us a way of getting some rent back in.
“But it would provide a space for us to have meetings, to have a bit of security within our own home, and it would be a great place to have a heritage centre.”
The Young Farmers’ Highland Show tent for the weekend.
She explained: “We’ve got boxes and boxes of stuff from all the different Young Farmers clubs all over Scotland, because we are from the South of Scotland all the way up to Shetland.”
“One of the girls that’s just left, she’s just done her Master’s degree, so she’s hoping to do a heritage centre.”
Young Farmers from around the country are being asked to contribute memorabilia and photographs from Young Farmers clubs in years gone by. They have collected 102 boxes already.
An artists’ rendition of what the new Young farmers Centre could look like © Edinburgh Planning Portal
National Chair, Euan Bremner, added: “We’ve done loads, some of us have run marathons, climbed mountains, but then just big donations and loads of different events have also been really important.
“We’ve got 73 clubs in Scotland, so they’ve all done something, and from all sorts of different events, tractor runs, like fashion shows, everything’s been covered just to raise money.
“We’re really happy with how it’s been going. So we’re just needing a wee bit more to get it finished.”
Throughout the show, the Young Farmers will host sheep shearing, tug of war, football, and hockey competitions, all of which will aim to raise money for the Big Build.
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