RNAS outstanding service awards for four north-east farming stalwarts
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Members of the agricultural community in the north-east have been recognised in this year’s Royal Northern Agricultural Society (RNAS) awards.
A number of awards are presented by the society every year to farming stalwarts in the area who have been recognised for their efforts within the farming community.
This year’s recipient of the Press and Journal award, which is given to a public figure or personality for their services to agriculture, is Jim Royan, The Old Steading, Pluscarden, who is the current Vice-Lord Lieutenant of Moray.
As well as making a sterling service to his local community in a variety of capacities, he is particularly recognised for his 17 years as a commissioner of the Meat ND Livestock Commission and as launch chairman of Farm Assured Scotch Livestock – Europe’s first on farm quality assurance scheme.
Winner of the Aberdeen and Northern Marts’ award for service on a more local basis goes to Sandra Buchan Lyons, principal science teacher at Kemnay Academy, whose husband, Andrew Lyons farms at North Auchmachar, Mintlaw.
Sandra was recognised for her work in fostering a farming and countryside group for interested pupils at the school and planning and coordinating the hugely popular Kemnay Academy Country Show.
Haulage contractor Doug Mitchell, from Mearns, is this year’s recipient of the Argo family’s Unsung Hero award, after a near record number of citations on Doug were submitted to the panel.
A popular figure with his customers, Doug (77) still drives to this day, currently delivering grain, rapeseed and peas from Mearns farms to customers all over Scotland, although son Clive, now runs the business.
The winner of the 35 Years and Under award, sponsored by Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC), is Huntly pig farm manager Chloe Shorten.
This award is given to a person in that age group who has shown significant achievement and contribution to agriculture.
Ms Shorten (22) manages Jim Innes’ 1100-sow indoor pig unit at Dunscroft, Huntly, and although is currently studying at SRUC for an agricultural degree.
Chloe is not from an agricultural background but is studying at SRUC for an agricultural degree.
The 2021 RNAS agricultural student awards, sponsored by Johnston Carmichael, will also be presented at the lunch to Abbie McGillivray, East Auchavaich, Chapeltown, Ballindalloch (farmer’s son or daughter working at home); Isla Dickie-Moir, Muirfield House, Auchnagatt (student working outwith the family farm); and Lewis Grieve, Pineview, Meikle Whiterashes, Turriff (an apprentice engineer with Cc Powell, Montbletton, Banff) for the RNAS agricultural apprentice award.
Due to the 2020 RNAS awards lunch being cancelled, last year’s student and apprentice winners will be acknowledged this year.
The 2020 winners for the RNAS agricultural student awards were Ian Armstrong, Brae Farm, Kintore (farmer’s son or daughter working at home); Anna Duncan, 34 Meadowview Road, Turriff (student working outwith the family farm); Robert Clarke, 9 Dunnichen Road, Kingsmuir, Forfar (an apprentice engineer with Sellar Agriculture Ltd, Letham) for the RNAS agricultural apprentice award.
The awards will be presented at the society’s annual awards lunch at the Jury’s Inn, Aberdeen Airport, on Friday, November 5.
