NFU Scotland’s Next Generation Working Group AGM on Friday (January 18) saw Colin Ferguson and Zander Hughes elected as chairman and vice chairman.
New chairman Colin Ferguson (pictured top) is a dairy farmer from Dumfries and Galloway and has been on the panel for two years.
While the new vice chairman, Zander Hughes, is an agronomist and arable tenant farmer from Cardenden, near Fife, and is new to the group.
The pair are excited to build on the work which has been started by Mark Donald and Sarah Allison who held the roles last year.
Members plan to launch a set of objectives over the next few months.
Colin Ferguson said: “I am delighted to be elected as chair of the Next Generation Group and I look forward to taking on this role and engaging with the future leaders in Scottish agriculture.
“The coming year will hold many challenges for the industry but more importantly opportunities. I hope that the group will be at the forefront of these changes with myself, Zander Hughes as the vice chair and all of the regional representatives across Scotland giving a voice to the next generation within NFU Scotland.
The main goals for the Next Generation group are to increase engagement from all ages with NFUS and ensure the ‘Next Gen’ voices are an integral part of building a bright agricultural industry in Scotland going forward.
Jenny Brunton, Next Generation policy manager, said: “I’d like to thank our outgoing chair and vice-chair Mark Donald and Sarah Allison for all their hard work in the last few years, working with those on the committee and representing their views back into the union.
“I am delighted that the group is running at full strength and with such a wide range of backgrounds and experiences from all the group members, we are in a great place to fully represent and advocate for the future of Scottish agriculture.”
To keep up-to-date with everything Next Generation is doing, or to get involved, NFUS members can sign up to the Next Generation Newsletter on the NFU Scotland website.
