Lower Speyside Young Farmers ready to roll out bale art entry for Scotland-wide contest
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YOUNG farmers throughout the country are hoping to get people talking about mental health through their annual Bale Art contest this autumn.
It's been all work and no play for many in the farming industry this year as workers ploughed on through the Covid-19 lockdown, often very much in isolation.
Mental wellbeing is at the fore of this year's competition run by the Scottish Association of Young Farmers Clubs (SAYFC).
The bale art creations, which will pop up in fields across the country from this weekend, will promote the "Keep Talking" campaign being run by the Royal Scottish Agricultural Benevolent Institution (RSABI) as well as celebrate key workers.
The Lower Speyside Young Farmers (YF), whose 30-plus members hail from Buckie to Forres, will build their creation alongside the A96 near Kinloss this Saturday, October 3.
Eve Newlands (18), Lower Speyside YF secretary, said: "Our display will revolve around the 'stay at home' message of the pandemic.
"We will have around 12 to 14 pink-wrapped bale 'pigs' scattered about the field and 'one little piggy who stayed at home'."
The University of Dundee dentistry student, from Cluny Farm near Forres, added: "The bale art will be a thank-you to key workers and support both the 'Keep Talking' and 'R U OK?' mental health campaigns."
The SAYFC said it hoped the bale structures would prompt those who may be in need of a chat about issues affecting them to seek help.
A spokesperson added: "It’s important we highlight RSABI’s ‘helping hand’ to provide fully confidential emotional support – support given by mental health first-aid trained confidantes who fully understand the sector and are outwith a person’s family or neighbourhood."
The 59 bale art entries in Scotland will be whittled down to six finalists.
Last year Lower Speyside YF members' bale art entry, "The Very Hungry Caterpillar", promoted the work of CLAN Cancer Support.
