President Ian started our 9th June meeting by thanking everyone for their support at the weekend’s Anstruther Harbour Festival. Our new venture of an ‘Alphabet Hunt’ attracted a good level of interest, with 30 groups taking on the challenge and with prizes awarded for 1st, 2nd and 3rd. A total of £568.50 was also raised and this as always is destined for charities and good causes. 

Following a meal our speaker for the evening was Calum McBain, who spoke about the history and development of agricultural tractors - and the way in which farming has been changed. Calum is an Agricultural Engineer and his business ‘Acre Engineering Services Ltd’ prepares and services machinery for local farmers.

We heard of the developments made by well known manufacturers; each adding improvements and refinements over many decades. Three point linkage; turbo charged engines; cab suspension; yield mapping; roll over protection; front axle suspension; automatic and CVT transmissions; emission control; ISO-BUS, telemetry and automated ploughing.

A glimpse of the £220,000 gleaming red tractor parked outside was a revelation, with a cab now reminiscent of an aircraft cockpit. A far cry cry from the iconic ‘wee grey Fergie’!

We heard too of what the future might bring; driverless machines; autonomous operation; hydrogen fuel and the concept of ‘stubble to stubble’ management.

Altogether a fascinating and professional talk and one that was greatly appreciated. Following questions William Duncan proposed a vote of thanks.

We would like to thank everyone who came along to our stall at the Anstruther Harbour Festival, 31st May & 1st June.

We were delighted to meet for a chat and would like to give a special mention to Rotarians from Sydney, Australia and from North Carolina, USA - truly a world-wide fellowship.

£568.50 was also raised and as ever is destined for charities and good causes. We were pleased that our new venture of an ‘Alphabet Hunt’ attracted interest, with 30 groups taking on the challenge and prizes awarded for 1st, 2nd and 3rd. The money it raised will go to CHAS.

Strawberries generously donated by Barnsmuir and Grangemuir farms were hugely popular and rapidly sold out, along with geranium plants donated by Ian McBain. The  50/50, 1 - 100 number square also sold out - twice - each day, with four winners each getting £50.

And a final word from club president, Ian Brunton, to say thank you once again for your help, encouragement and support.