A teenager from Loch Tay has been chosen as the Scottish winner of a nationwide competition to help young farmers get ahead with shearing sheep.
Fifth generation farmer and Breadalbane Academy school leaver Duncan McDiarmid (17) was picked as the young person to represent Scotland on the trade body British Wool’s new YFC Shearing Training and Development programme.
One winner from each UK nation gets the opportunity of 12 months of training as well as a Lister Shearing prize package worth £500.
The programme of training Duncan is going to start includes attending a British Wool machine shearing course, followed by a gear course, a wool handling course and finally a second machine shearing course.
The rural life is in Duncan’s blood.
“I was brought up here on the family farm in Perthshire by Loch Tay. If I keep at it, I will be the fifth generation from our family to be working on the farm.
“Both of my parents are involved in the farm where they run mainly Blackface sheep and a small flock of Texel cross sheep,” he explained.
He had to prove his enthusiasm for shearing when he applied for the training opportunity with British Wool - a collective owned by 35,000 UK sheep farmers - and he was rewarded with the only place for Scottish applicants.
“I am delighted and feel very proud to be given this opportunity.
“I would like to thank British Wool, Lister Shearing and the Scottish Association of Young Farmers Clubs for presenting this fantastic opportunity to provide me with skills essential for sheep animal welfare.
“It has always been important to me to go on a British Wool shearing course to be trained by a professional as we shear all of our own sheep here on the family farm.
“During the shearing season last year, I started learning with hand shears under the instruction of my dad and then moved onto machine shearing.
“The training programme will really help me to improve my skills and give me good foundations for the future of my shearing career.”
Duncan hopes his British Wool training will unlock opportunities for him to learn his trade and allow him to head off for a stint in New Zealand.
“Hopefully by the end of the programme I will receive a British Wool seal, which range from blue for beginners to gold for advanced shearers.
“The seals are internationally recognised and will help me progress in my shearing career.
“My plan is to travel to New Zealand and other parts of the world to gain further shearing experience.
“In the long term I would like to take the knowledge gained back to the family farm in Perthshire.”
During the programme, Duncan will go on two machine shearing courses, a wool handling course and a course to learn about gear. He and the other winners will also visit the British Wool head office to learn more about the wool industry.
Duncan told the PA he is part of a network of young people in Perthshire who consider the land their future: “Most people my age from the rural community are involved like myself in Young Farmers. I’m a member of Aberfeldy Young Farmers.”
Richard Schofield, shearing manager at British Wool, congratulated Duncan on his achievement.
He added: “The standard of entries were extremely high and it was clear to see their passion for shearing and wanting to further develop existing knowledge and skills.”
