“Mr Fix it” was how the Chairman of A& N Group John McIntosh (CENTRE) described George Skinner (LEFT) of Strathorn Farm when he presented him with the Aberdeen and Northern Marts Award for his services to the farming industry in the north east of Scotland as well as his public service with what he termed a can do attitude. The Royal Northern Agricultural Society, of which George is an active member (RNAS) has become well known for it’s pioneering work to ensure the farming message gets to schoolchildren a project which led to the creation of a joint project the Royal Northern Countryside Initiative. (RNCI)

The RNCI was set up in 1977 after a family day at Strathorn Farm, in direct response to the BSE crisis. An educational body, among other activities, it takes farmers and farm animals to school as well as children to farms.

During his response at the award ceremony, George predicted big changes in Agriculture while also questioning why Europe continued to force farmers to set-aside ground and leave it fallow, when millions of people globally were dying of hunger.He also took the opportunity to launch an appeal to raise money to replace a vintage un-repairable tractor at an orphanage in Sierra Leone. The appeal resulted from a visit by two children from the orphanage when it was discovered that because of the broken down tractor, the orphanage were no longer able to cultivate the 200 acres of land they own.

More detail of the appeal can be obtained from Kids Action Aberdeen click here http://www.kidsaction.org.uk