Big County farmers book it
work immediately to put a milking herd back on,”she explained.
“It made sense to bring back the cows as they both enjoy working with them and the two enterprises complement each other.’”
A proud breed of cattle is in good hands with Allen Drysdale in Blairgowrie, owner of a British Charolais herd.
Third generation farmer Allen Drysdale and his father Peter run Middle Drimmie near Blairgowrie, where trading as WK and P Drysdale (a tribute to Allen’s grandfather, who took on the tenancy in 1945), they farm 650 acres at two farms just a mile apart.
A move from England was the making of Canadian-born pedigree Shorthorn breeder Douglas McMillan, now based at Luncarty.
Douglas moved his Coln Valley herd, lock, stock and show box, from Gloucestershire to Perthshire, six years back.
“We were fed up fighting planners down south. The Cirencester area was lovely in the‘70s when we first moved there, but it became much more built up,”explained Douglas, who runs 60 head of Shorthorns on the 160-acre farm, Moneydie Roger.
Age was no barrier to sheep farmer Tom Paterson (81) of the four Perthshire properties Dunruchan, Craigneich, Straid and Middleton in Comrie.
Tom was a worthy winner of the Connachan Silver Salver in 2015, a trophy presented by the Blackface Sheep Breeders’ Association in recognition of services to the breed.
Combining farming with selling direct through a farm shop has paid off for Ian and Alison Niven from Gloagburn Farm, Tibbermore, Perth.
Eilidh’s book described their business model:“When your farm shop is eating up nearly 5000kg of milled oats per year it makes sense to find a way to use your own.
This is exactly what Ian and Alison Niven in conjunction with their family have achieved at Gloagburn Farm Coffee Shop.”
Other local farmers who’ve been immortalised in the book include dairy man Norman Greer of Wharlawhill Farm near Carnbo Kinross and top Blackface breeder Mary
Alison and Ian Niven of Gloagburn Farm Shop. Pic: Eilidh MacPherson McCall-Smith of Connachan, Crieff. Mary is the third generation to farm the 2500-acre hill property.
Peter Alexander of 950-acre Mains of Mause, Blairgowrie gets a mention, as does lamb producer Sandy Paterson of Auchloy, Comrie, and Mike McDairmid of Castle Menzies Farm by Aberfeldy.
The book costs £25 and is on sale at Gloagburn Farm shop, Harbro and Carrs Billington, Perth and the Watermill Bookshop, Aberfeldy.