Initiative takes food and farming to 800 Scots youngsters
Young players from Boroughmuir Rugby Club with QMS's Make it Scotch campaign ambassadors © QMS Around 800 young people across Scotland have learned about livestock farming, food production and nutrition through Quality Meat Scotland’s (QMS) ongoing education programme.
Working with its Make it Scotch ambassadors, it has delivered a series of school and community events during the first two months of the academic year, helping young people understand where their food comes from.
See also: QMS defends role of red meat in children’s diets
Activities have ranged from farm visits and butchery demonstrations to cooking workshops and sports nutrition sessions.
Between August and October, ambassadors attended three Royal Highland Education Trust Food and Farming days, gave six farm-to-fork talks and eight cookery demonstrations, alongside other educational events.
The programme has reached communities from Stranraer to Grantown-on-Spey, connecting pupils with farming, food preparation and nutrition.
QMS also attended Boroughmuir Rugby Club’s Champions Day, where families learned about the nutritional role of red meat through interactive activities.
Abby Goldie, QMS community engagement co-ordinator, said: “We engaged with attendees by playing interactive games and encouraging those we spoke with to think about their diet and nutrition while focusing on fuelling their bodies properly.”
Ongoing programme
The programme will continue into the next school term, with a particular focus on Scotch Lamb ahead of St Andrew’s Day on 30 November.
Working with the Institute of Auctioneers and Appraisers in Scotland, QMS will organise school activities designed to develop practical cooking skills and increase awareness of Scotch Lamb.
“St Andrew’s Day provides a fantastic opportunity to celebrate Scotch Lamb for its heritage and nutritional benefits,” said Ms Goldie, adding QMS would also be exploring why Scotch Lamb should be as traditional for St Andrew’s Day as haggis is for Burns Night.
Schools interested in food and farming education can arrange a visit from a Make it Scotch Ambassador through QMS.
