Scottish Association of Young Farmers ‘Cultivating Leaders’ programme offers young farmers the opportunity to build skills in leadership, advocacy and business knowledge with a group of likeminded individuals, under the guidance of industry leaders and experts. It provides participants with practical knowledge and skills to become effective leaders in the farming sector.
The programme is aimed at passing on the skills and knowledge of farming industry leaders to young farmers who successfully secure a place on the course. It draws from lived experience and encourages learning and development from those who have been on the same journey.
‘Cultivating Leaders’ has strong relations with stakeholders from across the rural sector and in politics, allowing other organisations to share the work that is being done and increase awareness of the work being undertaken by their students. It is a nationwide initiative that takes on 16 students per year and aims to fit in around participants’ busy lifestyles.
Although the programme is primarily focused on leadership in the context of rural business, the future of the rural sector is reliant on our ability to adapt to the challenges of meeting current ethical and environmental standards. As such, these issues are at the heart of everything the programme aims to teach students. The programme involves a significant amount of travel around the country, where it is not always possible to make use of local tradespeople and suppliers, but there is always an underlying commitment to this in line with the values and standards of the SAYFC. Part of the programme actively encourages workshops held on community engagement and public relations.
Since the inception of the ‘Cultivating Leaders’ programme, the course has opened to a wider group of Young Farmers. It encourages applicants from across the country and across different backgrounds. The programme has made key improvements including how it reaches out to Young Farmers who may have not otherwise considered applying to the programme. The programme hosts a diverse student body, ensuring that anyone who wants to participate is given the opportunity to apply.
As with so many initiatives in recent years, the ‘Cultivating Leaders’ programme had to overcome Covid whilst in the planning phase. The programme can be very hands-on and the benefits of it are best realised through in-person engagement. Overcoming the difficulties of the pandemic and getting the course to the place it is now is a fantastic achievement, and one everyone involved in putting together should be proud of. The way it has evolved to bring together such a diverse range of Young Farmers from across Scotland to support them in becoming the next generation of leaders in the sector has required significant effort on the part of the SAYFC team.