Seven-year-old Maisie Forbes has won Quality Meat Scotland’s (QMS’) competition to create promotional artwork for this year’s ‘Porktober’ campaign.

The month-long campaign, which will go live on October 1, is run in conjunction with Scottish Craft Butchers to celebrate homegrown pork.

Maisie Forbes’ artwork. Image: QMS

The young girl from Inverness was crowned the winner of the competition after QMS received dozens of entries from schoolchildren who visited its stand at the Royal Highland Show.

Forbes’ design aims to showcase specially selected pork’s journey from farm to fork and it grabbed the attention of the judges, QMS said.

Her image will be used on social media and in butchers’ shops to promote the campaign that aims to celebrate the quality, versatility and affordability of pork.

QMS health and education coordinator, Tracy Martin, featured on the judging panel made up of representatives from the red meat levy body.

“We were excited to launch this new competition at the show, and it was fantastic to see so much enthusiasm and creativity from the children who took part.

“They all took a considerable interest in learning about the qualities of specially selected pork, translating this into vibrant, informative and eye-catching posters,” she said.

“With momentum building for ‘Porktober’ more broadly, it’s great to have the younger generations thinking and talking about the affordable, delicious and nutritionally-dense meat in a positive light.”

Porktober

Executive manager at Scottish Craft Butchers, Gordon King, said: “We can all – industry and consumers – take inspiration from the children’s Porktober competition entries and get creative making meals with our delicious and versatile specially selected pork.

“As well as supporting pork production in Scotland, cooking with specially selected pork and the QMS recipes available on the Make it Scotch website is quick, affordable and exciting.

“With specially selected pork you are getting produce of highest quality and welfare standards so why not put it on your fork this week?

“And if you do, don’t forget to share your creations on social media to raise the profile of our valuable pork sector.”