FW diversification award winners plot business expansion

After winning in the midst of a global pandemic, Alison and Fergus Younger of Old Leckie Farm have gone from strength to strength in their quest for sustainability and self-sufficiency.

Nestled quietly at the base of the Gargunnock Hills, just a few miles west of Stirling, the 122ha farm has remained in the family for more than 100 years.

Since taking over, the pair have continuously juggled countless ideas and projects to get their ever-evolving business model closer to their self-sufficiency goals – without the need for subsidies.

See also: Farmers Weekly Awards 2021: Diversification Farmer of the Year

“Lately we’ve been working on an environmental statement for the farm,” says Alison.

“We really want to be transparent about our produce and be on the front-foot against what seems like constant negativity associated with farming.”

The key driver for developing this strategy has been understanding the motivations of their new and repeat customers.

“Our customers are motivated to buy from us because they feel they are making positive and sustainable consumer choices – it’s something they can take pride in, just as we take pride in our produce.”

Farm facts

© Fergus and Alison Younger

• 122ha owned
• 81ha rented
• 500 ewes
• 20 highland cattle
• 65 suckler cows
• 1,400 laying hens
• 0.4ha of garlic
• 0.4ha of potatoes
• Six-bedroom self-catering accommodation
• Two-bedroom bothy in development

Highs, lows, and new projects

Upgrading their local delivery service of eggs, beef, potatoes and cut salad bags, the most recent addition to the farm comes in the form of a fully electric zero-emissions van.

With about 50% of their produce being sold directly, this couldn’t have come at a better time.

The van will help them to keep on top of the boom in business, caused largely by the pandemic, as they have seen a 40% increase in their direct customer base – all of which they have managed to retain.  

Along with the new business, the pair also took on more than 80ha of new land – something that Fergus was particularly excited about.

“It has been a really good farming year for us – we managed to make the best hay that we’ve had in years. We always want to try to bring something new – that’s why we planted an acre of garlic, which we hope will be a success.”

© Fergus and Alison Younger

Taking on the new land hasn’t been entirely plain sailing, however, as they lost two of their Highland cattle to the tick-borne disease known as redwater, or bovine babesiosis, which Fergus puts down to being a “sad part of the challenge when you take on new grazing that you haven’t managed before.”

Knock-on effects of the pandemic presented further challenges, and led to a change of butcher and a shortage of refrigerated transport vehicles and drivers.

“The supply chain suddenly becomes very vulnerable, and it makes things quite stressful.”

“It turned out to be a mixed blessing in the end – we found a new butcher, changed abattoirs, and hired a refrigerated trailer.”

The bigger picture

With so many projects in the pipeline, Alison and Fergus hope to use both their produce and premise as a credible way of promoting the wider Scottish agri-tourism industry.

They’re building a new two-bedroom self-catering bothy, to accompany their existing six-bedroom lodge, and hope to develop a tasting tour element for their guests.

Now that Covid restrictions have eased, they are looking forward to welcoming volunteers from the Worldwide Opportunities on Organic Farms (WWOOF) back to the farm – it’s a project they are passionate about, and have successfully supported for many years, hosting volunteers from all over the world.

As a final word of encouragement, they stress that they didn’t expect to win, but the whole awards process was a fantastic experience. “The awards night was a brilliant evening, and winning was the cherry on the cake.”