The Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland (RHASS), which this year celebrates its 230th anniversary, has announced that it is realigning its charitable funding.
This will see the Scottish National Fatstock Club’s Winter Fair losing out as funds are allocated to a new RHASS Scholars Group.
An RHASS statement said the society was looking to invigorate its approach to meeting its charitable remit to promote the interests of Scottish agriculture.
The society, which awards more than £400,000 each year, has confirmed that it will no longer be involved in the SNFC’s Winter Fair, ending its involvement with the event.
For three years the show was known as the Royal Highland Winter Fair, and this was taken as a sign of substantial support with many observers seeing this as the first step towards the creation of a winter event to mirror the success of the Royal Highland Show which runs for four days in June.
The Winter Fair was already being held at RHASS’s Ingliston showground utilising the Highland Hall, as was its rival AgriScot which is held in the same venue a week earlier.
Neither the Winter Fair, which is at heart a show of prime cattle and lambs, or AgriScot which is a more general agribusiness event, give attendance figures but AgriScot is generally estimated to attract three to four times as many visitors.
Over the years, RHASS interest in being involved in a winter event appears to have dwindled, and the official partnership with SNFC ended in 2012 after three years.
Last year’s event reverted to being billed as the Scottish National Fatstock Club Winter Fair, although there was still an unspecified amount of support from RHASS.
It is believed the support was both financial and in kind, relating to compiling entries and catalogues.
The fair was run on a Saturday for the first time rather than on a Wednesday, with the move being hailed as a success.
RHASS chairman Allan Murray said: “The society has a long history of partnerships and funding which range from one-off events such as the SAYFC anniversary concert to longer term associations including the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies,the University of Glasgow School of Veterinary Medicine and the Moredun Institute.
“The Winter Fair has benefited from RHASS’ support over the years, and directors are keen to develop new initiatives, such as the RHASS Scholars Group, which we hope will bring fresh ideas and new ways in which we can meet our charitable remit.”
The move, however, was angrily condemned by SNFC chairman Sandy Galbraith, who farms at Upper Kinneal, Linlithgow.
“We (the SNFC) have not been consulted about this, and the press release comes as news to me.
“I am a life member of RHASS, as are 12 members of my immediate family, and I am bitterly disappointed about the way the society has conducted itself over this.”
Mr Galbraith added that the news meant the SNFC committee would need to start from “square one” as regard the venue and date for this year’s Winter Fair.
“We ran the 2013 fair outwith the limited liability partnership with RHASS which ended in 2012, but with some support, and it was a very successful event.
“It is run by volunteers with the aim of promoting the Scottish beef and lamb industry, and it is very disappointing that RHASS don’t seem to share that aim.”
The RHASS statement said: “The new RHASS Scholars Group has been designed to raise awareness of the society’s grants and awards and stimulate new funding applications.
It will consist of individuals who have previously been awarded funding by the society and it is hoped that by harnessing and promoting these positive experiences, more individuals and organisations will be encouraged to apply for awards.
“Adding his support to the initiative is Scott Wilson from Market View Belston holdings in Ayr, who was funded by RHASS to attend the recent Oxford Farming Conference.
Age 26, he is West Region chairman for SAYFC. He believes this new approach will deliver significant benefits to the industry.”
Mr Wilson commented: “Being able to attend the Oxford Farming Conference was a hugely valuable experience, both personally and professionally.”
He added: “By opening up opportunities for young people, RHASS is investing in the future of the agricultural industry.
“I am pleased to be a part of this new initiative and look forward to shaping the remit of the RHASS Scholars Group,” he said.
The inaugural meeting of the RHASS Scholars Group will take place in early April.
In the meantime SNFC will need to find an independent way forward for its flagship Winter Fair.