YF Crafters Hit the Slopes and the Back of the Net

Young Farmers Creative Skills take Centre Stage

Each year at the Royal Highland Show the entries to the Scottish Association of Young Farmers Club’s National Arts & Crafts competition take pride of place in the Young Farmers Stand. 2026 was another exceptional year for the competition (sponsored by NFU Mutual), with members creating some brilliant displays for show week based on the themes of ‘Après Ski’ in the senior competition and ‘World Cup’ for the Junior teams.

The senior competition transported show visitors to the snowy slopes with the boards featuring a wonderful assortment of handmade cozy clothing, carved skis, winter drinks and colourful decorated biscuits all brought tied together in carefully arranged tableaus. And none were more neatly presented than that of competition winners Mauchline, with their high scoring entry earning top marks and a special prize for ‘Appearance and Display’. Club Arts & Crafts convenor Karen Foster was delighted with the result after the team’s hard work:

“It was such a relief to walk into the young farmer’s tent on the Thursday of Highland Show and see the red ribbon across our display. It really makes all the stress and hard work worth every minute. “

She also explained how the competition is the perfect chance for Young Farmers to hone their creative skills and try something new:

“When it came down to the entry itself, most of our team already had the skills needed for each item. So, it was more about furthering their skills to finalise each item as well as brainstorming many ideas to see how we could get all the items to tie in together once on the display.

When it comes to new skills that have been picked up this year, I have picked up a new skill. My item was the biscuits and up until a few weeks ago I had no idea you could do so many things with icing. I never was too much of a keen baker but after all the trials of flavourings and icing designs I’m starting to take an interest in it.”

The second place display belonged to fellow Ayrshire club, Kilmaurs YFC who earned special prizes for their impressive floral display featuring a wonderfully carved wooden base and their further article, a tasty cocktail providing the perfect après aperitif. Just half a point behind in third place were Carluke YFC. They also earned two special prizes, one for their A4 poster and the other for their beautifully decorated Empire Biscuits.

The Junior competition had an international flavour as the entries channelled the excitement and diversity around football’s greatest tournament. The winner of the junior competition were the team from Stranraer and Rhins. Their colourful display was very well thought our, earning them not just the junior title but also special prizes for Appearance and Display and their A% Programme Cover. The team were very pleased with their win:

“We can’t believe that we have won as the standard is set incredibly high by all of the clubs at Nationals. It’s great to see that all of our hard work and effort has paid off!”

Close behind them in second place were Bathgate JAC. They impressed with another sterling entry, earning a special prize for their further article of some delightfully decorated cupcakes. Running a close third by just one point was the team from Annandale, with their display which featured a bright floral display, bursting with colourful flowers and ribbons.

Congratulations to our winning teams and well done to all the competitors on all their hard work and preparation, it was fantastic to see all of the entries on display at the show, and they earned so many wonderful compliments from those visiting the YF marquee. The association would like to thank NFU mutual for their support for the competition, our volunteers and staff for bringing it together, and of course the members of the Scottish Women’s Institute for judging the competition once again.

JUNIOR ARTS & CRAFTS – “FIFA World Cup” – Sponsored by NFU Mutual

3rd– Annandale [Georgia Nairn, David Graham, Gregor Bell, Amie Halliday]

2nd– Bathgate [Joanne Galbraith, Coral Black, Claire Wilson, Beth McNee]

1st– Stranraer & Rhins [Ruth Turtle, Amy Stewart, Gracie Cook, Zara McDowell, Erin Jamieson, Amy Stewart]

SPECIAL PRIZES

Sewn Article – Erin Brown, Ayr

A5 Program Cover – Gracie Cook, Stranrear & Rhins

Floral Exhibit – David Graham, Annandale

Further Article – Beth McNee, Bathgate

Appearance and Display – Ruth Turtle, Stranraer & Rhins

SENIOR ARTS & CRAFTS – “Apres Ski”– Sponsored by NFU Mutual

3rd– Carluke [Laura Hunter, Joanne Hall, Sarah Patterson, Kirstie Young, Amy Miller, Sarah Moffat]

2nd– Kilmaurs [Eva Millar, Lynn Smith, Megan Brown, Eve Carroll, Emily Burns]

1st– Mauchline [Kirsty Gemmell, Beth Robertson, Fiona Gemmell, Karen Foster, Stella Hill, Alexander Mitchell, Kiki McMillan-Grant]

SPECIAL PRIZES

Sewn Article – Holly Shearer, Crossroads

Floral Exhibit – Megan Brown, Kilmaurs

3 Biscuits – Kirstie Young, Carluke

Knitted Article – Lucy Graham, Biggar

A4 Poster non-computerized – Amy Miller, Carluke

Further Article – Emily Burns, Kilmaurs

Appearance and Display – Beth Robertson & Kiki McMillan Grant