At our meeting of 22nd January we were delighted to welcome as guests, the friends who had helped deliver the 5,000 plus cards of our Christmas postal delivery service. It had raised £1808 for charities.

Business covered the ‘Gavel’ competition, Primary School quiz, an outlook on RYLA - and plans for the Burns Supper planned for our next meeting.

Following an excellent buffet meal provided by the Rockies Restaurant, we were treated to a very interesting illustrated talk by Ally Brunton. 

We heard of his experiences at the Scottish Association of Young Farmers Clubs agricultural and rural affairs study visit to Chile in 2022. It was fascinating to learn something of the ways that agriculture in Chile differs from Scotland. One surprising fact relating to cereal production is the much lower pressure from diseases, due to the land having been cropped for a much shorter period of time.

But there were also similarities in the way that agriculture there is driven by market demands -albeit differing ones. Also too the need to invest in technology as a way the displace labour cost.

Of particular interest to wine drinkers in the audience was way that Chilean wines have developed to offer higher quality and wider renge in the world markets.   

An interesting talk and following many questions, an appreciative vote of thanks was proposed by John O’Neill.