North tractor run looking to combine farming heritage with raising cash

Members from Young Farmers clubs are on special charity relay in vintage tractors - crossing over 300 miles throughout the whole of the North Region, taking in all the many districts within the area.

The Scottish Association of Young Farmers Clubs (SAYFC) is the largest youth organisation in Scotland and throughout the North region.

This campaign, is set to benefit the farming national mental health campaign, 'Are Ewe Okay?' as well as Cash For Kids.

Setting off on the 7th of September from Laurencekirk;

Tractor 1 - Laurencekirk to Lumphanan

Tractor 2 - Lumphanan to Aberchirder

Tractor 3 - Aberchirder to Forres

Tractor 4 - Forres to Nairn

Tractor 5 - Nairn to Wick

Tractor 6 - St Margaret's Hope to Kirkwall

Taking part on the fifth leg between Nairn and Wick is Michael Gunn from Balmore, Dounreay. Michael said: "The tractor on the Nairn to Caithness route is a newly done-up Massey Ferguson 35, and we're very grateful to Gavin Sutherland from Forse for lending it to us"

"We'll try and keep off some of the really busy bits so we can all run smoothly together"

"Obviously because they're vintage, you've no air-suspension seat, no radio, none of the mod-cons or creature comforts, so we'll be hoping the weather's kind"

With a number of farmers busy on the road at this time of year, there are several tractors on the go, but Michael doesn't expect any grief from drivers along the route:

"Everyone knows tractor's are slow, but hopefully there'll be no problems, we are trying to do this for charity, so we'll try and keep off some of the really busy bits so we can all run smoothly together"

"Looking at the averages, two and a half days should be enough for us"

The tractors are looking to cover all the many different areas along the North Region - like Rothiemay, Keith, Mulben, Rothes, Fogwatt, Elgin, Kinloss, Cawdor, Culloden, Beauly, and Muir of Ord, before setting off up the A9.

The Sunday then sees the final leg to St Margaret's Hope to Kirkwall.

As for any revelry along the way, Michael's keen to point out the Young Farmers will be "keeping sensible" with a busy - but slow - schedule to factor in.

The mydonate link is here