Plans for the forthcoming AgriScot are well underway, however organisers have taken the unprecedented decision to move the farm business event from the original November date to 9 February 2022.
Explaining the decision, which he stressed was not taken lightly, AgriScot Chairman Robert Neill stated:
“Unfortunately, even as restrictions lift, Covid is still proving to be a hurdle for large scale indoor events such as AgriScot. We are now mid-way through August and still face uncertainty including the prospect of a limited capacity event in November.”
“The other factor affecting our decision is had we gone ahead in November it would have been without the use of the Lowland Hall, which traditionally forms a significant proportion of our floor space. The Lowland Hall is currently in use as one of the largest Covid vaccine centres in Scotland and we understand that the vaccine centre will remain open over the November period when AgriScot would have taken place.
The AgriScot Board is fully supportive of the continuation of this important immunisation facility at the Royal Highland Centre.”
“The whole AgriScot team is keenly aware that a change of date will not suit everyone, but we hope that stakeholders understand the reasons for this one-off change and will support our event on 9 February. It is now almost 22 months since we were last able to hold a live AgriScot event and I am delighted that we have been able to settle on 9 February as a definitive date for our next event and will launch our online booking platform for trade exhibitors on 8 September.”
“We will also revert to our scheduled date later in 2022 (16 November) and so for the first time in the event’s history will run twice in one calendar year.”
AgriScot organisers were also keen to highlight the fact that three of their Farm of the Year Awards are currently still open for entry and nominations, these being the Beef, Sheep and Diversified Farm Awards. The Business Skills Award, for young people under 26, is set to open for entries soon and all of the farm of the year awards and competitions will run to their scheduled timeframes and deadlines with the announcements, results and award ceremony set to be held as part of the main event on 9 February.
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