So Much More Than Farming
Gill Sherry
With over 70 Clubs and more than 3,500 members, The Scottish Association of Young Farmers Clubs (SAYFC) remains committed to supporting young people who live and work in rural Scotland. Established in 1938, it aims to ensure that those young people are supported to reach their full potential.
I caught up with Lynne Carrick, member of the Kilmaurs Club, and Ayrshire Secretary, to find out more.
How long have you been a member of SAYFC?
I joined in 2015. I live in Barrhead in East Renfrewshire but I don’t have a local Club. East Renfrewshire was a Club, but it folded just about the time my dad was joining Young Farmers, so probably about 35-40 years ago. At the time, I had people near me who were going to Kilmaurs and they reached out to me about joining. That’s how it works, that’s how Clubs get new members in.
How does the structure work?
Essentially, the members are all part of a Club. I’m part of Kilmaurs, one of the seven Clubs that form the Ayrshire District, which is part of the West Region, which is part of National.
What are the other Clubs in Ayrshire?
Arran has just started up again so we’re back to full capacity now: Arran, Ayr, Beith, Crossroads, Kilmaurs, Mauchline and New Cumnock. There were other clubs but these have folded over the years.
How long have you been Ayrshire Secretary and what does that involve?
I started the role in March 2024. I organise most of the Ayrshire events for the year with the office bearers. We have four or five meetings during the year with the committee and we organise all the Ayrshire competitions. We’re also a support network for all the Clubs in Ayrshire.
Tell me about the competitions.
We all typically follow the same syllabus, but we all do our own version of that. You tend to have a Club competition which will then qualify you for an Ayrshire competition, and it keeps going up the ranks… so you could be a National winner as well. There’s a lot of different competitions, it’s not just the cattle judging that it once was.
Am I right in thinking you don’t have to be from a farming background to join?
That’s right. In most Clubs there are actually fewer farmers than there are ‘townies’ as such. A lot of people think that everything we do is related to farming but we do such a vast range of competitions and events that appeal to more people. A lot of people have no farming background but they’ve joined through friends.
So, it’s very much a social thing?
Potentially, yes. But there are opportunities as well. There are opportunities for abroad travel, for example.
Tell me a bit more about that.
We have an International Travel Committee and every year there’s an application process. Personally, I went on an agricultural trip to Canada. There were 16 of us, four from Ayrshire. We went out there to visit farms and agricultural businesses… all things you wouldn’t be able to do if you just wanted to go to Canada yourself. It’s all planned for you.
Presumably there are career benefits too?
Yes. You’re seeing so many different people from across a vast area so there are so many people you can lean on. And if you’re going for jobs, you can say your hobbies include Young Farmers… it breaks you away from other people because you’ll get questioned on that and what it involves. We also do speech making competitions, they’re a great opportunity for people going for jobs because it’s something different.
What other benefits does membership bring?
There’s just such a wide scope of opportunity. You have the chance to excel in almost anything. I’ve tried everything that the Young Farmers has given me. You can do sports or speech making, or you can do the traditional competitions like cattle dressing. There’s something to suit so many people. It allows you to excel at things at such a young age and I don’t think there’s another organisation that is similar to what we do.
What about the mental health benefits?
Mental health is such a big thing in the rural community. People are working at home all the time and they don’t get to go out. Young Farmers gives good opportunities to those individuals for social interaction. It’s about getting yourself in a room with like-minded individuals. You meet a lot of new people. It’s really good that way.
Does SAFYC get involved with local communities?
Yes. Most clubs pick a charity every year and will do fundraisers throughout the year. Crossroads and Ayr had a dyno day – testing how much horsepower your tractor has – and raised over £2,000 for the Royal Scottish Agricultural Benevolent Institution (RSABI). In the past, Kilmaurs held a charity cabaret night and more recently, the Ayrshire District had a casino night raising money for Lochlan’s Legacy and the Beatson West of Scotland Cancer Centre. And coffee mornings are always popular.
How much does it cost to be a member of SAFYC?
Every club is different. We are currently £30 for junior members and £40 for a senior. The official cost is £58 but Clubs are able to subsidise the cost for members.
What are the age limits?
Membership is open to young people aged between 14 and 30.
I believe Ayrshire District has something to celebrate this year?
Yes, we’re just about to start planning our 80th anniversary celebrations. We’ve got a few events coming up this year, some of which will potentially be open to non-members. There’ll be a family fun day, afternoon tea and croquet, and our anniversary dinner in November.
To learn more about The Scottish Association of Young Farmers Clubs, to apply for membership, or to find out which is your nearest Club, visit www.sayfc.org. Most Clubs and Districts also have their own Facebook page. Ayrshire District can be found on Facebook as Aayfc Ayrshire Young Farmers.
