Agri Culture

You are listening to Agri Culture, a podcast that aims to explore the stories of the people that make up our agricultural industry and culture of farming, in Scotland and beyond. 

On today’s episode Mary-Jane Lawrie is joined by Wallace Currie.  Wallace may be familiar to you as he runs his own podcast R2Kast as part of his brand Rural 2 Kitchen, which started during lockdown as a way to share his farming life.  Later he became a lecturer at SRUC and has since gone on to do a Nuffield Scholarship on pathways into agriculture through education, youth groups and consumer engagement.  He talks to us about his farming background, his thoughts on how agriculture should be woven into our education system, and his work with the Young Farmers and Farmstrong Scotland. 

Thanks for joining us for this episode of Agri Culture. If you’d like to get in touch or find out more about R2Kast, Young Farmers, Nuffield Scholarships, or Farmstrong Scotland you can find links in the show notes. 

This episode was presented by Mary-Jane Lawrie, produced by Kerry Hammond and edited by Cameron Waugh, in association with the Scottish Government. 

Resources: 

Rural2Kitchen - YouTube 

R2Kast - People in Food and Farming/All In - Hosted by Wallace Currie 

Rural2Kitchen | Facebook 

Wallace Currie MSc (@rural2kitchen) • Instagram photos and videos 

The Scottish Association of Young Farmers Clubs | SAYFC 

Agricultural Studies | Nuffield Farming Scholarships 

Farmstrong Scotland - Live Well, Farm & Croft Well 

For more information, visit  www.FAS.scot 

Twitter: @FASScot 

Facebook: @FASScot 

National Advice Hub 

Phone: 0300 323 0161 

Email: [email protected] 

Content Warning: The following episode mentions pregnancy loss.  

Mary-Jane Lawrie is joined by Eilidh Verstage from Arngask Home Farm. Eilidh and her husband Lloyd are new entrants, who purchased Arngask 4 years ago.  They have rare breed pigs and this year have just started growing chemical free vegetables to sell wholesale, at markets and locally in weekly veg boxes.  They have also branched out into running events with a neighbouring farm.  Community is at the heart of what they do, and this evident from the volunteers who support the veg enterprise, the local community, frequenting their honesty horse box, and the vibrant digital community that Arngask Home Farm have built on social media.  

Thanks for joining us for this episode of Agri Culture. If you’d like to get in touch or find out more about Arngask Home Farm, the Oxford sandy and black pig foundation, or the rare breed survival trust, you can find links in the show notes.  This episode was presented by Mary-Jane Lawrie, produced by Kerry Hammond and edited by Cameron Waugh, in association with the Scottish Government. 

Resources: 

ABOUT | Arngask Home Farm 

Arngask Home Farm (@arngaskhomefarm) • Instagram photos and videos 

Arngask Home Farm - Facebook 

Oxford Sandy and Black Pigs - Oxford Sandy and Black Pig Foundation Charity 

Ooooby | Ecommerce for small farms, veg boxes, food hubs, CSA's and craft food.  

For more information, visit  www.FAS.scot 

Twitter: @FASScot 

Facebook: @FASScot 

National Advice Hub 

Phone: 0300 323 0161 

Email: [email protected] 

Mary-Jane Lawrie is joined by Liz Haines to talk about her lived experience of being neurodivergent and working in agriculture.  Liz tells us about her background in farming and how she and her husband became new entrants to agriculture.  Liz shares some of her systems and process that help her run their successful dairy farm since being diagnosed with ADHD in 2022.  This diagnosis led her to pursue a Nuffield scholarship.  She has travelled the world to study neurodiversity in agriculture, and she shares with us her learnings, and how we can help and support neurodiverse people in our agricultural industry.   

Thanks for joining us for this episode of Agri Culture. If you’d like to get in touch or find out more about the ‘Level The Field’ campaign, you can find more information in the show notes.  You may also want to listen to the two Agri Culture podcast episodes on dyslexia.  This episode was presented by me Mary-Jane Lawrie, produced by Kerry Hammond and edited by Cameron Waugh, in association with the Scottish Government.  

Resources 

Level the field - Farmers Weekly 

BBC Two - Inside Our Minds 

Agricultural Studies | Nuffield Farming Scholarships 

Agri Culture - Cathy Magee: Delving into Dyslexia | FAS 

Agri Culture - Pete Black: The Superpower of Dyslexia | FAS 

For more information, visit www.FAS.scot 

Twitter: @FASScot 

Facebook: @FASScot 

National Advice Hub 

Phone: 0300 323 0161 

Email: [email protected] 

Mary-Jane Lawrie is joined by Josh Barton from Brose Oats.  

Josh tells us about the company, Brose Oats, and their oat milk products, telling us the story of how the company grew from an idea in a small kitchen, to distributing Scottish oat milk across the Lothians and beyond.  He also talks about the importance of sustainability, both in terms of food production, but also in terms of societal sustainability and how important it is to create local jobs for local people.  We also discussed how we can make work more accessible for those who maybe have found it challenging to gain and retain employment.   

Thanks for joining us for this episode of Agri Culture. If you’d like to get in touch or find out more about Brose Oats, resources for food and drink entrepreneurs, and the UK government’s access to work programme for those with disability or long term health conditions, you can find links in the show notes.  This episode was presented by me Mary-Jane Lawrie, produced by Kerry Hammond and edited by Cameron Waugh, in association with the Scottish Government. 

Resources 

Brose Oats | Scottish oat drinks from East Lothian 

Josh Barton | LinkedIn 

Brose Oats Facebook Page  

Brose Oats (@broseoats) • Instagram photos and videos 

THRIVE Programme | Scottish Centre for Food Development Innovation | Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh 

Access to Work: get support if you have a disability or health condition: What Access to Work is - GOV.UK 

For more information, visit www.FAS.scot 

Twitter: @FASScot 

Facebook: @FASScot 

National Advice Hub 

Phone: 0300 323 0161 

Email: [email protected] 

Mary-Jane Lawrie is joined by James Logan, the current chairman of the Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland.  This episode was recorded in the lead up to the Royal Highland Show 2025, and James tells us about changes at the Society and what he is looking forward to about this year’s show.  He talks about his life in agriculture and how he got involved with RHASS. 

Thanks for joining us for this episode of Agri Culture. If you’d like to get in touch or find out more about RHASS you can find links in the show notes.  This episode was presented by me Mary-Jane Lawrie, produced by George Gauley and edited by Cameron Waugh, in association with the Scottish Government. 

For more information, visit  www.FAS.scot 

Twitter: @FASScot 

Facebook: @FASScot 

National Advice Hub 

Phone: 0300 323 0161 

Email: [email protected] 

Mary-Jane Lawrie is joined by John Ferguson, founder and CEO of Sisaltech Ltd, a Scottish company which produces sustainable building insulation from natural sisal fibres and Scottish wool. In this episode John shares his unique story on how he got started, his sustainable business goals and his top tips for business success. 

Thanks for joining us for this episode of Agri Culture. If you’d like to get in touch or find out more about John and Sisaltech you can find links in the show notes.  This episode was presented by me Mary-Jane Lawrie, produced by George Gauley and edited by Cameron Waugh, in association with the Scottish Government.  

Linked FAS Resources  

Sisaltech  https://www.sisalwool.com/ 

John Ferguson LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/sisaltech/?originalSubdomain=uk 

Mary-Jane Lawrie is joined by Ally Brunton chair of SAYFC and Jillian Kennedy, SAYFC Vice chair. They both talk about their time in young farmers and the experiences and benefits of being in the club.  They also tell us about the SAYFC Respect campaign which was launched at the Highland Show in 2024, which aims to allow every member to contribute to SAYFC as a safe, inclusive, fun environment for young people.  This episode discusses themes around mental wellbeing and suicide, please listen with care.  

Resources 

The Scottish Association of Young Farmers Clubs | SAYFC 

SAYFC focused on RESPECT - Scottish Association of Young Farmers Clubs 

Young Farmers say ‘Leave a Light On’ - Scottish Association of Young Farmers Clubs 

Mental Health Support | SAYFC Members Support | Contact Us 

Home - RSABI 

Farmstrong Scotland - Live Well, Farm & Croft Well 

Agri Culture : Farmstrong Episode 

Agri Culture: Stephanie Berkeley - Yellow Wellies

Agri Culture: Jim Chapman - Adapting to Life After an Accident

For more information, visit www.FAS.scot 

Twitter: @FASScot 

Facebook: @FASScot 

National Advice Hub 

Phone: 0300 323 0161 

Email: [email protected] 

Mary-Jane Lawrie is joined by Kenneth Bone from Glenkiln Farm on the Isle of Arran.

Kenneth Bone farms Glenkiln Farm on the Isle of Arran with his family.  They won the Diversified Farm of the year award at last year’s Scottish Agriculture Awards, as well as taking home the Champion of Champions trophy.  The business has an impressive portfolio, from the farming business to hydro scheme, pub, equestrian centre and housing.  Kenneth tells us where it all began, and how the business diversified to be the success it is today.

Thanks for joining us for this episode of Agri Culture. If you’d like to get in touch or find out more about the various projects on Arran that we mentioned you can find links in the show notes.  This episode was presented by me Mary-Jane Lawrie, produced by Kerry Hammond and edited by Cameron Waugh, in association with the Scottish Government.

Resources

Glenkiln Farm - Champion of Champions - AgriScot - Your Farm Business Event

The Drift Inn |Lamlash Isle Of Arran

Welcome to VisitArran

Arran Trust | welcome to the beautiful island of arran

Rural and Islands Housing Funds - More homes - gov.scot

For more information, visit www.FAS.scot

Twitter: @FASScot

Facebook: @FASScot

National Advice Hub

Phone: 0300 323 0161

Email: [email protected]

Listener Advisory Note : This episode contains a mention of suicide, please listen with care.  

Mary-Jane Lawrie is joined by Jim Chapman, farmer and farm safety ambassador.  Jim talks openly about the farm accident that changed his life when he lost his arm in a PTO shaft.  He talks about the impact that had on him, and how he got through the dark times.  He tells us how important the support he received from friends, family and young farmers was to him.  He went on to do a Nuffield scholarship on farm safety and is now an ambassador for the Farm Safety Foundation.    

If you’d like to get in touch or find out more about the topics we mentioned you can find links in the show notes.  This episode was presented by Mary-Jane Lawrie, produced by Kerry Hammond and edited by Cameron Waugh, in association with the Scottish Government. 

Resources 

Farm Safety Foundation / Yellow Wellies - YellowWellies.org 

Farm-Emergency-Plan-Template_1020.pdf (yellowwellies.org) 

LittleBookOfMindingYourHead_10YearEdition_0424.pdf (yellowwellies.org) 

Farmstrong-Scotland-Leaflet-Five-Steps-to-Wellbeing-FINAL.pdf (farmstrongscotland.org.uk) 

Access to Work: get support if you have a disability or health condition: What Access to Work is - GOV.UK 

Hear our other Farm Safety episode with Stephanie Berkeley from Yellow Wellies

For more information, visit www.FAS.scot 

Twitter: @FASScot 

Facebook: @FASScot 

National Advice Hub 

Phone: 0300 323 0161 

Email: [email protected] 

Mary-Jane Lawrie is joined by Stephanie Berkeley from the Farm Safety Foundation 

Stephanie Berkeley is Manager of the Farm Safety Foundation, which you might know also as Yellow Wellies.  The Farm Safety Foundation was established in 2014 with the aim of improving farm safety in the UK.  The Foundation runs successful campaigns such as Farm Safety week and educates young farmers across the UK in colleges and young farmer clubs.  Stephanie talks to us about the importance of the charity, and resources available to all farmers.  

If you’d like to get in touch or find out more about The Farm Safety Foundation and sources of support you can find links in the show notes.  This episode was presented by Mary-Jane Lawrie edited by Cameron Waugh and produced by Kerry Hammond, in association with the Scottish Government. 

Resources 

Farm Safety Foundation / Yellow Wellies - YellowWellies.org 

LittleBookOfFarmSafety_1stEdition_0624.pdf (yellowwellies.org) 

Build your Own Health & Safety Policy Digital Tool (yellowwellies.org) 

Farm-Emergency-Plan-Template_1020.pdf (yellowwellies.org) 

LittleBookOfMindingYourHead_10YearEdition_0424.pdf (yellowwellies.org) 

Farmstrong-Scotland-Leaflet-Five-Steps-to-Wellbeing-FINAL.pdf (farmstrongscotland.org.uk) 

Access to Work: get support if you have a disability or health condition: What Access to Work is - GOV.UK 

Hear our other episode on Farm Safety, 'Jim Chapman: Adapting to Life After an Accident' here

For more information, visit www.FAS.scot 

Twitter: @FASScot 

Facebook: @FASScot 

National Advice Hub 

Phone: 0300 323 0161 

Email: [email protected]