Eilidh Duncan, 22, was brought up on her family farm in Dullatur and recently moved to the hills of Fintry, Stirlingshire, to live with her farming partner. She works as a full time livestock procurement officer covering North and Central Scotland for Farm Stock (Scotland).
Role
My role at Farm Stock helps provide a procurement service to members assisting them to maximise their returns and improve their farming business year on year.
I do this by helping to draw livestock and then matching them to the most suitable outlet, ensuring the best possible price on the day.
The knowledge and experience I have gained since starting this career is unimaginable.
At home, I learned how my family farm operates efficiently. However, when visiting farms throughout the country, I have seen lots of different farming systems on all types of farms, big and small.
There is no better way to learn than seeing things first hand.
I have been fortunate to see a vast array of breeds, handling systems, all sorts of treatment and tricks of the trade, finishing methods and much more.
An opportunity that I would never have had if I had stayed at home.
Working for a co-operative means I can share my new-found knowledge on my travels, helping local farmers to improve their farming business.
Networking
I feel very passionate about networking within the industry, in particular being part of the of the ever-growing Women in Agriculture network, which has helped me build on my learning and be more effective in my role
in the industry.
Although this year has been very different, I would normally spend my spare time going to agricultural shows, a big date in the calendar is the Royal Highland Show, where I compete in tug of war for my local young farmers club, alongside showing my handmade shepherds crooks.
Future
I have recently started the addictive hobby of breeding crossing type Blueface Leicesters with my partner and helping him with sheep work when I can.
I feel extremely lucky to be a part of the industry, getting to see the things I do, but also getting to be a part of my own farming story, which I can one day hopefully teach to the next generation.