Tractor design competition winner captures pride in farming

A Perth family has won a competition to design the livery for a tractor taking part in Birmingham Pride on 25 September.

Run by Massey Ferguson, Agrespect and Farmers Weekly, the competition called on people to suggest a colourful livery to showcase the diversity of British farming.

The winning design would then appear on a MF 8S tractor at the rally, one of the UK’s biggest LGBTQ+ festivals.

The Watt family from Drumtogle Farm, Aberuthven, impressed the judges with their Union flag design, which will give a proud and positive vision of agriculture to the mostly urban crowd at the city event.

See also: View all of the entries in the Pride in Farming Tractor Design Competition

Ellen Watt with her sons Henry and Angus © Ellen Watt

“My husband John was busy outdoors, so I sat down with my two sons, Henry and Angus, to come up with the design,” says Ellen Watt. “The three of us all really like art, although after a while the boys headed off, so I ended up finishing it myself.

“We were aiming for a design that would be eye-catching from different angles, plus highlight how agriculture really is embracing inclusivity. It is a great career for everyone.

“We also hope it gets across the ‘Buy British’ message which is so important when it comes to food.”

Lindsay Haddon, advertising and sales promotion manager at Massey Ferguson, said: “We picked this as the winner because it really shows ‘pride’ – pride to be associated with the Agrespect movement, pride to farm and pride to back British farming.

“Agriculture is a career for all, and we should all work together to make sure that it is a flagship of equality, diversity and inclusivity.

“When we talk about sustainability, we talk about farming, food and the environment, but we should talk more about the sustainability of people too. Everyone in agriculture should feel proud and safe, and never be scared to be who they are or have to hide who they are,” she adds.

“The tractor is a celebration of the diverse nature of farming and how, as a manufacturer, we’re supporting inclusivity.”

According to Matthew Naylor, the co-founder of the rural LGBTQ+ network Agrespect, attending events like Pride shows the public an “authentic and unexpected side” to the agricultural industry.

“This is all about the farming industry promoting diversity and inclusiveness in its broadest sense – whether that’s to do with sexuality, ethnicity, gender or anything else,” he added.

The so-called “Sassy Ferguson” was officially unveiled at Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire, on 24 September, a day ahead of the start of Birmingham Pride.

The big reveal

The Sassy Ferguson under wraps before the big reveal © MAG/Lizzie McLaughlin

There go the wrappers © MAG/Lizzie McLaughlin

The Sassy Ferguson revealed © MAG/Lizzie McLaughlin

Our sponsors

Thanks to our sponsors Massey Ferguson and Agrespect for making it possible to run this competition.