Sarah finds warmth on ice - and plenty of competition! - at the annual farmer's curling competition at Perth's Dewar Centre.

160 people from all over Scotland take part in the Chuck Hay Memorial Bonspiel, in teams of 4, over three days in January.

There is camaraderie and connection - which is especially important in the bleak dark month of January, when isolation can feel particularly pronounced.

In this episode:

1. event organisers and brothers Sandy and Dave Hay tell Sarah what the event is all about, and pay tribute to their father, Chuck Hay, a former curling world champion
2. sheep farmers Glen and Thomas Muirhead - brothers of Eve Muirhead - stop by to share thoughts on the competition
3. Farmstrong's own Alix Ritchie shares thoughts on why events like this are great for social connection and wellbeing

If listening to this episode has made you want to check out curling, please visit Scottish Curling's "Try Curling" website. It has info on all the ice rink venues across Scotland where there are organised taster sessions with qualified coaches. The sessions are open to anyone who wants to give it a go. You simply enter your postcode / location to get a list of times and venues. Link here:

Sandy Hay is a trustee for RSABI - whose 24-hour helpline (below) is available to anyone in Scottish agriculture, and who offer practical, emotional and financial support: https://www.rsabi.org.uk/

How’s It Going?

Take a moment for yourself: try Farmstrong Scotland’s How’s It Going? tool. Answer eight simple questions and get access to resources tailored to support you.

Farmstrong Scotland helps farmers, crofters and their families cope with the ups and downs of rural life by sharing practical ways to look after themselves and the people around them. It’s a peer-to-peer programme, shaped by scientific insight and real-life stories, so together we can share, learn and support each other’s wellbeing.

Follow Us

Visit the Farmstrong Scotland website to find out more.

Follow Farmstrong Scotland on Twitter/X, LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook.

You can also subscribe to our Spotify Playlist including hundreds of tunes, recommended by farmers and crofters across Scoland.

If you’re concerned about yourself or someone else, talk to someone.

Contact your doctor, RSABI’s 24-hour helpline: 0808 123 4555, Breathing Space: 0800 838 587, or Samaritans (24-hours): 116 123.

This is a groundbreaking episode of Blether Together - as Sarah Stephen meets our first ever husband and wife duo – Willie Thomson and Anna Davies.

Anna and Willie are tenants on a 250-acre arable farm near Haddington.

They recently converted a steading into co-working spaces. Anna also runs rural PR and marketing firm Scene and Herd, and hosts Scottish farming podcast OnFARM.

It’s a busy life – but recent health challenges for Willie have prompted a change in pace and approach.

How’s It Going?

Take a moment for yourself: try Farmstrong Scotland’s How’s It Going? tool. Answer eight simple questions and get access to resources tailored to support you.

Farmstrong Scotland helps farmers, crofters and their families cope with the ups and downs of rural life by sharing practical ways to look after themselves and the people around them. It’s a peer-to-peer programme, shaped by scientific insight and real-life stories, so together we can share, learn and support each other’s wellbeing.

Follow Us

Visit the Farmstrong Scotland website to find out more.

Follow Farmstrong Scotland on Twitter/X, LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook.

You can also subscribe to our Spotify Playlist including hundreds of tunes, recommended by farmers and crofters across Scoland.

If you’re concerned about yourself or someone else, talk to someone.

Contact your doctor, RSABI’s 24-hour helpline: 0808 123 4555, Breathing Space: 0800 838 587, or Samaritans (24-hours): 116 123.

Being involved in Young Farmers - SAYFC - is fun, empowering, and a vital social connection for younger people across rural Scotland.

In this special Blether Together, recorded with a live audience at AgriScot, Sarah Stephen speaks with Jack Young, a current young farmer, and Catriona Gemmell, who recently aged out of being part of SAYFC.

Together, they consider the part SAYFC plays in wellbeing in rural Scotland - and how to keep social connections going when the dreaded day comes that you are too old to be part of Young Farmers!

Also featured in this episode:

Emily Simpson - SAYFC Events and Engagement Manager

Jillian Kennedy - SAYFC Chair

Will Murray - TikTok creator, sheep farmer, and ex SAYFC member

How’s It Going?

Take a moment for yourself: try Farmstrong Scotland’s How’s It Going? tool. Answer eight simple questions and get access to resources tailored to support you.

Farmstrong Scotland helps farmers, crofters and their families cope with the ups and downs of rural life by sharing practical ways to look after themselves and the people around them. It’s a peer-to-peer programme, shaped by scientific insight and real-life stories, so together we can share, learn and support each other’s wellbeing.

Follow Us

Visit the Farmstrong Scotland website to find out more.

Follow us on Twitter/X, LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook, or subscribe to our Spotify Playlist, which includes hundreds of tunes recommended by farmers and crofters across Scotland.

If you’re concerned about yourself or someone else, talk to someone.

Contact your doctor, RSABI’s 24-hour helpline: 0808 123 4555, Breathing Space: 0800 838 587, or Samaritans (24-hours): 116 123.

Firm friends Robert Neill and John MacInnes join Sarah Stephen to Blether Together about the joys and pressures of their working lives, whether running AgriScot, Robert’s newer role as NFUS Vice President, or on their family farms in Kelso and Iona.

Both men share how they’re helping smooth the path into farming for the next generation -recognising when to step back, give younger voices room to grow, and trust them to make their own mark on the business.

There’s also chat about how island life isn’t necessarily isolated. On Iona, John has a close community, some keen fellow golfers, and a steady stream of passing tourists to talk with (and to skive from shearing, says Robert!).

Both men agree that having interests outside the farm, whether it’s golf, community work, or a project that’s just for you, plays a big role in keeping well and maintaining perspective.

Robert also reflects on how wellbeing can come from being hands-on and helping others.

Whether that’s getting practical in the workshop or pitching in to find solutions to people’s problems, giving your time and support can make a real difference. One of the Five Ways to Wellbeing is Give, and it’s something Robert and John live by, through mentoring, volunteering, and contributing to the wider farming community.

Join us live at AgriScot

We’ll be recording anepisode of Blether Together live at AgriScot on Tuesday 19 November. Come along to the Seminar Room Two at 9.00am to be part of the conversation, or catch the Farmstrong Scotland team as we make our way around the show.

How’s It Going?

Take a moment for yourself: try Farmstrong Scotland’s How’s It Going? tool. Answer eight simple questions and get access to resources tailored to support you.

Farmstrong Scotland helps farmers, crofters and their families cope with the ups and downs of rural life by sharing practical ways to look after themselves and the people around them. It’s a peer-to-peer programme, shaped by scientific insight and real-life stories, so together we can share, learn and support each other’s wellbeing.

Follow Us

Visit the Farmstrong Scotland website to find out more.

Follow us on Twitter/X, LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook, or subscribe to our Spotify Playlist, which includes hundreds of tunes recommended by farmers and crofters across Scotland.

If you’re concerned about yourself or someone else, talk to someone.

Contact your doctor, RSABI’s 24-hour helpline: 0808 123 4555, Breathing Space: 0800 838 587, or Samaritans (24-hours): 116 123.

Marking World Mental Health Day - 10th October 2025

A true Scottish agriculture powerhouse, Caroline Millar joins Sarah Stephen for a special bonus episode of Blether Together, to mark World Mental Health Day.

Caroline opens up about the warning signs that made her realise it was time to prioritise her wellbeing, and how inspiration from New Zealand's approach to farming life led her to make lasting changes.

In this candid chat, Caroline also shares the practical steps she's taken to build a healthier, more balanced life - for herself, her family, and the people she works with.

Listen now - and share with someone who needs a boost.

LINKS:

Sign up to join Caroline, Sarah and Dr Hannah Went at Blether Together Live at Guardswell Farm, Kinnaird, Inchture, from 6.30pm on 16th Oct.

Follow Farmstrong Scotland on Twitter/X, LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook.

You can also subscribe to our Spotify Playlist including hundreds of tunes, recommended by farmers and crofters across Scoland.

If you are concerned about yourself or someone else, talk to someone. Contact your doctor, RSABI’s (24-hours) helpline: 0808 123 4555, Breathing Space: 0800 838 587 or Samaritans (24-hours): 116 123

Thankfully, menopause is far less 'taboo' as a topic than it used to be.

But there is still so much to do, to make sure that women experiencing menopause, and those around them, understand what is happening and what it means for health, wellbeing,and relationships.

Dr Heather Currie MBE is a specialist gynaecologist and renowned menopause expert (and breeder of Aberdeen Angus cattle!) from Dumfries and Galloway. She joins Sarah for this month's Blether Together.

Thanks also to crofter Sally Crowe and Caithness, and Lesley Mitchell who farms near Hawick, for sharing their menopause stories for this episode.

LINKS:

On 16th October 2025, there is a Farmstrong Scotland 'menopause special' live event taking place, at Guardswell Farm, Kinnaird, Inchture. Find out more online here.

Farmstrong Scotland's menopause resource - created in partnership with Dr Heather Currie MBA - is online here.

Follow Farmstrong Scotland on Twitter/X, LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook.

You can also subscribe to our Spotify Playlist including hundreds of tunes, recommended by farmers and crofters across Scoland.

If you are concerned about yourself or someone else, talk to someone. Contact your doctor, RSABI’s (24-hours) helpline: 0808 123 4555, Breathing Space: 0800 838 587 or Samaritans (24-hours): 116 123

James Logan, Chairman of the Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland (RHASS) and East Lothian farmer, joins host Sarah Stephen to talk about:

- navigating the challenges of farm succession

- managing the leadership and responsibility of the Royal Highland Show

- why agricultural shows are so important for bringing people and communities together.

It’s an honest and open blether about farming life, leadership, and the importance of finding time for connections... with some top wellbeing tips from 'Granny Warnock from Biggar' as well.

1. Take a moment for yourself: try Farmstrong Scotland’s How’s It Going? tool: answer eight simple questions and get access to resources tailored to support you.
2. Farmstrong Scotland helps farmers, crofters and their families cope with the ups and downs of rural life by sharing practical ways to look after themselves and the people around them. It’s a peer-to-peer programme, shaped by scientific insight and real-life stories, so together we can share, learn and support each other’s wellbeing.

Visit the Farmstrong Scotland website to find out more.

Farmstrong Scotland is an initiative to help farmers, crofters and their families to cope with the ups and downs of farming and crofting by sharing things they can do to look after themselves and the people in their business. It is a peer-to-peer led programme, driven by scientific information and real-life stories, so together we can share, learn and support our wellbeing - visit the website to find out more.

Follow us on Twitter/X, LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook or subscribe to our Spotify Playlist including hundreds of tunes, recommended by farmers and crofters across Scoland.

If you are concerned about yourself or someone else, talk to someone. Contact your doctor, RSABI’s (24-hours) helpline: 0808 123 4555, Breathing Space: 0800 838 587 or Samaritans (24-hours): 116 123

In our latest podcast, host Sarah Stephen met with Gerard Vaughan, Programme Director for Farmstrong in New Zealand, at opposite ends of the day as the sun was rising with Gerard and setting with Sarah. 

A warm and insightful chat on what inspired the start of the Farmstrong programme 10 years ago, what makes the Farmstrong principles different, and finishing off with some useful tips and ideas from Gerard on the small steps we can take to introduce good habits for our wellbeing, including 'catch it, check it, change it' - a technique used to challenge negative or unhelpful thoughts and change them into more positive ones.

Farmstrong Scotland is an initiative to help farmers, crofters and their families to cope with the ups and downs of farming and crofting by sharing things they can do to look after themselves and the people in their business. It is a peer-to-peer led programme, driven by scientific information and real-life stories, so together we can share, learn and support our wellbeing - visit the website to find out more.

Follow us on Twitter/X, LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook or subscribe to our Spotify Playlist including hundreds of tunes, recommended by farmers and crofters across Scoland.

If you are concerned about yourself or someone else, talk to someone. Contact your doctor, RSABI’s (24-hours) helpline: 0808 123 4555, Breathing Space: 0800 838 587 or Samaritans (24-hours): 116 123

In a first for Blether Together, we are joined by not one but two guests for a lively, warm and open conversation.

Host Sarah Stephen met with Russ Mill and Glen McLellan to find out more about the annual Come Ashore Cup, taking place on Saturday 7th June at Orkney Rugby Club.

The event was set up in 2022 by Russ, in memory of his cousin and popular Caithness farmer Alexander Mill who sadly died by suicide in 2021. Tune in to hear Sarah, Russ and Glen discuss just how important social events like this one are for farmers, crofters and the agricultural community, to get off farm and come together for a bit of fun and laughter, and why Glen says it’s a day that really “fills his bucket”.

Content note: This episode discusses suicide and mental health. If you are concerned about yourself or someone else, talk to someone. Contact your doctor, RSABI’s (24-hours) helpline: 0808 123 4555, Breathing Space: 0800 838 587 or Samaritans (24-hours): 116 123

Farmstrong Scotland is an initiative to help farmers, crofters and their families to cope with the ups and downs of farming and crofting by sharing things they can do to look after themselves and the people in their business. It is a peer-to-peer led programme, driven by scientific information and real-life stories, so together we can share, learn and support our wellbeing - visit the website to find out more.

Follow us on Twitter/X, LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook or subscribe to our Spotify Playlist including hundreds of tunes, recommended by farmers and crofters across Scoland.

If you are concerned about yourself or someone else, talk to someone. Contact your doctor, RSABI’s (24-hours) helpline: 0808 123 4555, Breathing Space: 0800 838 587 or Samaritans (24-hours): 116 123

This #MentalHealthAwarenessWeek, we're excited to share a brand new podcast episode featuring someone who embodies what Farmstrong's Five Ways to Wellbeing are all about.

In this powerful episode, host Sarah Stephen chats with Wallace Currie, a 28-year-old farmer’s son, who shares his journey of resilience, vulnerability, and growth. Wallace shares how creating his own podcast Rural2Kitchen, supporting the Young Farmers, taking notice of the world around him, and embracing continuous learning have become the cornerstones of his approach to wellbeing.

Fresh from completing a daring abseiling challenge to raise awareness and funds for Farmstrong, he demonstrates how pushing personal boundaries can benefit both personal wellbeing and the wider farming community.

Tune in for a conversation worth your time in #MentalHealthAwarenessWeek and beyond!

Farmstrong Scotland is an initiative to help farmers, crofters and their families to cope with the ups and downs of farming and crofting by sharing things they can do to look after themselves and the people in their business. It is a peer-to-peer led programme, driven by scientific information and real-life stories, so together we can share, learn and support our wellbeing - visit the website to find out more.

Follow us on Twitter/X, LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook or subscribe to our Spotify Playlist including hundreds of tunes, recommended by farmers and crofters across Scoland.

If you are concerned about yourself or someone else, talk to someone. Contact your doctor, RSABI’s (24-hours) helpline: 0808 123 4555, Breathing Space: 0800 838 587 or Samaritans (24-hours): 116 123