Pens at the ready: Pupils invited to envision farming’s future with short story competition

Children’s author and competition judge, Catherine Stables, is a working vet based in Keith with her series of Shona the Vet books, inspired by her veterinary experience and love of animals.

She said: “This new competition is a wonderful initiative and one I feel very passionate about. Encouraging children to read and write is so important, and when you connect that with learning about our rural landscape, farming and culture, it becomes something really special. You don’t need a farming background to enter, just lots of creativity to imagine how our farms might operate in years to come. I’m excited to see the creativity it sparks.”

Dumfries and Galloway based author, bookseller and publisher at Foggie Toddle Books, Jayne Baldwin’s books include Betty’s New Best Friend about a Belted Galloway and a Highland Cow and The Highland Cowgirl - Showtime which is all about the adventures of a young girl at an agricultural show.

Jayne said: “The National Year of Reading provides such an excellent platform to encourage young people to discover or rediscover a love of reading, whether that’s picking up a picture book, novel, comic book, or even a magazine.

“This competition is an opportunity to have fun with words and imagine an entirely new world, created entirely by you, of how we’ll farm, look after animals and work in agriculture ten, twenty or thirty years from now. It’ll be fascinating to read what’s in store!”

Open to pupils across the country, entries must be original work, with one submission per pupil, and an accompanying illustration is welcomed but optional. Primary (P5-P7) pupils are asked that their stories have a maximum of 250 words, and Secondary (S1-S3) pupils have a maximum of 500 words. Entries can be hand written or typed.

All entries must relate to at least one of the following themes: The future of farming, Sustainable food production, Innovation in agriculture or Caring for animals, crops or the environment.

Winners will be announced ahead of the Show taking place in June, with two winners and two runners-up recognised across the primary and secondary categories. Prize packages will include family tickets to attend the Sunday of the Royal Highland Show, book vouchers (£100 for winners and £50 for runners-up) and the winning stories being published in national farming title, The Scottish Farmer. The winners will also receive family passes to the Wigtown Book Festival which takes place in Dumfries & Galloway in the autumn. 

The competition closes on Friday May 15.  All entries should be emailed by teachers to rhsshortstorycomp@mucklemediagroup.co.uk and include the name of the pupil and their year group.