My first week here in Scotland has flown by, but it has been filled with so many great experiences. I spent the first part of the week with the East Lothian Young Farmers, going on farm tours, seeing the sights of the Eastern Coast of Scotland, and seeing what life is like on the farms out here. On the day that I arrived, the East Lothian club was hosting a field day, where we practiced stock judging, identifying farming tools and driving various tractors on the farm. Attendees then participated I a wheat sheath throwing competition, and we ended the day with a slip n slide down one of the many hills on the farm. My hosts Emma and Liam live on the coast in the town of North Berwick, so I have been spending a lot of time walking along the beach and enjoying the quiet seaside town. I got to spend father’s day with Emma and her family, where we went on a hike in Dunbar, Scotland’s ‘Sunniest’ town, and enjoyed a nice Sunday roast prepared by her sister Chloe. We toured one of the larger vegetable farms, that specialize is cabbage, Brussel sprouts and potatoes, a horse livery and Christmas tree farm, and walked the wheat and bean fields of a cash crop and cattle farm with their agronomist. I also got the opportunity to get a tour of a composting facility that is turning waste dirt into topsoil, and a Bio-digester.
After a few days in the east, I headed to Edinburgh to meet up with the other international exchanges. We got to spend some time exploring the city and even stopped for a tour at Johnnie Walkers to enjoy some Scottish whisky. After we got ourselves acquainted with one another, and many members of the SAYFC International Committee, we got ready to attend the Royal Highland show, Scotland’s largest agricultural show. The RHS showcases the best of food, farming and rural life in Scotland, and brings in people from all around the world. Walking around the show, it was like if you were to combine the Woodstock Farm Show and the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair. There are tractor displays, livestock judging, cooking demos and many competitions, such as pole climbing.
I will be spending 4 days in Edinburgh at the RHS, before heading west to my next host in Kilmarnock, Ayrshire!
