Fourth annual stockjudging charity event

North-east farmers have announced plans to once again hold a special charity event in memory of the Press and Journal’s late farming editor Joe Watson.

NFU Scotland’s Aberdeen branch is to host the fourth annual Joe Watson stockjudging and social evening on Friday June 16.

This year’s event will take place at Middleton of Potterton Farm, Potterton, near Aberdeen. The farm is run by brothers Drew and Ian Thomson, and Ian’s son Ian Jr.

The event was launched following the death of Joe, who passed away suddenly at the age of 43 in March 2014.

Union branch chairman Roddy Catto said all farmers in the region were invited to attend the event “in memory of our talented, highly respected friend, and journalist, Joe Watson”.

He said: “Prizegiving and presentation of the Perpetual Trophy will be made by Joe’s family with proceedings raised from the night going towards some of Joe’s favourite charities.”

The Perpetual Trophy is presented to the champion in the stockjudging contest in memory of Joe.

Last year’s winner was Don Anderson, of Brucewell Farms, Stonehaven, who took first place in the open male section.

The event, which took place at Robbie, Barbara and James Milne’s North Bethelnie Farm, Oldmeldrum, was attended by hundreds of farmers.

It helped raise £1,340 for the Royal Northern Countryside Initiative and the Scottish Charity Air Ambulance.

This year’s event will feature a stockjudging contest with classes of cattle, calves and sheep. There will also be a raffle, with the draw for a number of prizes made at the close of the event.

NFU Scotland vice-president Gary Mitchell will attend the evening, and beef and pork and apple burgers will be served, courtesy of McIntosh Donald, and cooked by the union’s poultry committee chairman Bob Hay. Refreshments will also be available, thanks to support from animal feed firm Norvite.