Producers make their mark at Highland Show

TENS of thousands of visitors had the opportunity to sample some of the best fresh produce and craftworks that Shetland has to offer at the Highland Show in Edinburgh last weekend.

A 16-strong delegation from the islands, including six Vikings, descended on the Scottish capital for a four-day event that attracted in the region of 200,000 folk.

The Shetland Young Farmers Group won two awards at the show – coming first in a national junior stock-judging competition and also triumphing in the young farmers’ national club of the year category.

Group chairwoman Erin Gibson said she was “so proud of all our members for supporting the club and making it what it is today”, thanking its members, family and the wider Shetland community for their backing.

Erin said she was especially proud of Nia Hunter, Erin Ridland and Aimee Gifford for winning the stock-judging accolade having been “confident enough to go up against some very tough competition”.

The group is spearheading efforts to encourage more young folk to go into crofting and farming to safeguard the future of agriculture in Shetland, where tens of thousands of sheep are reared every year. The islands’ renowned native lamb was last year granted PDO (Protected Designation of Origin) by the UK Government.

“We currently have around 50 members of Shetland Young Farmers and it’s so refreshing to see so many young folk interested and seeing so many like-minded folk come together in our community to learn and have fun,” Erin said.

“Farming is such a busy and labour intensive job and can often be lone working or just working with family, so having the opportunity to come together and socialise is so important.”

The plaudits for Shetland’s producers didn’t stop there, with Uradale Farm scooping an award for sustainable farm of the year. The family-run farm is run by Jakob Eunson, who butchers all its organically-certified meat himself, and supplies local shops and restaurants as well as craft butchers such as Lidgate’s in London.

Jakob described it as “fantastic news” and, having been unable to make the show himself, said it was an “added bonus” that Shetland Livestock Marketing Group (SLMG) manager Lauraine Manson collected the award and presented it to him on her return.

Shetland Food and Drink (SFAD) chairwoman Marian Armitage said the Budge sisters from Bigton Farm, who spoke about the business as part of the show’s ‘Food for Thought’ conference, were “held up as an example of what can be achieved”.

Marian was joined by Lauraine to demonstrate the boning, rolling and roasting of Shetland lamb – an ideal showcase for the islands’ abattoir and the provenance of its native animals.

In addition to seafood kebabs prepared by John Martin Tulloch of fishmonger Island Fish, featuring scallops, monkfish and crab, visitors were offered samples of sassermaet and reestit mutton from Scalloway Meat Company.

“Folk were really, really loving it,” Marian said.

She said the trip had been invaluable for SFAD member businesses, who were able to make new contacts as well as renewing acquaintances with industry representatives from Orkney and Argyll.

It was the first time SFAD has had a presence at the Highland Show, tying in with the show’s presidential initiative focusing on the Highlands and Islands region this year.

Marian added: “The great thing is it’s not just the one business, it’s the whole experience: to promote our culture and to support food tourism by encouraging folk to come here to eat, drink and enjoy everything Shetland has to offer.”

• Folk who are interested in finding out more about Shetland Young Farmers can contact the group via its Facebook and Instagram pages.