A Look Back at the Scottish Agritourism Conference
Last week’s Scottish Agritourism conference was a huge success for the sector as a whole. It’s hard to pick just one highlight but we were especially delighted to hear Mairi Gougeon’s announcement of Scottish Government investment in a further Agritourism Monitor Farm programme for the sector, funding the recruitment of four farms across Scotland, with the involvement of a wider circle of eight rural businesses around each farm with a further 400 Scottish Agritourism businesses set to benefit. Ms. Gougeon, the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs & Islands also announced a further £35,000 of support over 2022/23 to enable Scottish Agritourism to provide a leadership role in relation to the Scottish Agritourism Strategy. Read the full Scottish Government announcement here.
We are simply delighted that the Scottish Agritourism Conference was attended by 270 delegates from all over Scotland, the north of England and even Holland!
Topics covered by our speakers included an update on Scottish Agritourism activity, Go Rural consumer marketing and Destination Leader participation throughout the previous 12 months, sustainability of family farms via agritourism, an overview of Scottish Agritourism strategy and the latest agritourism growth tracker results, member experiences of creating an agritourism destination, market trends for the sector, approaches to selling meat direct, as well as two break out sessions looking at the growth tracker results in more detail and, the inaugural Scottish Agritourism AGM. Every one of the speakers was fantastic.
They were:
Sustainability of the Family Farm & Croft with speakers (L-R) Destination Leader Lindsay Robertson, Long Island Retreats; Sally Duncan; Balfour Stewart, The Bus Stop; Destination Leader Alison Younger, Old Leckie Farm (chair); Shona Duncan, Duncan Family Farms.
Creating an Agritourism Destination with speakers (L-R) Jenny McKerr, The Wee Farm Distillery; Janet and Neale McQuiston, Kitchen Coos and Ewes; and Emma Niven, Loch Leven’s Larder. The session was Chaired by Helen Smith, Byres Farm.
Putting Meat on to Agritourism Menus – The Challenges and Opportunities with (L-R) Nikki Storrar, Ardross Farm; Kate Rowell, Quality Meat Scotland; Louise Urquhart, Louise’s Farm Kitchen: Chaired by Jim McLaren MBE, NFU Mutual.
Huge thanks to our Platinum conference sponsor NFU Mutual.
Our silver conference sponsors were Davidson Chalmers Stewart LLP, MILL Architects and Solway Water Management.
Perth Concert Hall looked after us all really well; The baking from member businesses Ardross Farm Shop, Heron Farm Shop and Café, Castleton Farm Shop, Drift and fudge from Farmhouse Fudge went down a literal treat with our teas and coffees which were supported by Solway Outdoors; Refreshments for the drinks reception provided by The Wee Farm Distillery, Ogilvy, Kintyre Gin, The Gin Bothy and Summerhouse Drinks were all delicious and a great addition to post event networking, which was sponsored by Shepherd and Wedderburn, and also the perfect way to whet the whistle before the conference dinner, sponsored by Azets
The stylish delegate bags were sponsored by North Link Ferries, containing a handy notebook sponsored by Bidwells. The conference lanyards were sponsored by Galbraiths.
Delegates were able to browse an exhibition in the concert hall foyer at break and lunchtimes, with stands and displays from Borders College, Caledonia Play, Fishers, Green Tourism, Savills, Scottish Agritourism, South of Scotland Destination Alliance, SuperControl, TouchStay, Visit Scotland as well as some of our sponsors.
We’re already looking forward to next year and if you did attend, please be sure to complete your event feedback so we can be sure to pick up on anything that can be done to improve.