Dumfriesshire farmer Andrew McCornick has been elected the 62nd President of NFU Scotland. Mr McCornick, previously a Vice President at the Union, now takes over one of the top jobs in Scottish agriculture.
Perthshire farmer Martin Kennedy and Gary Mitchell from Wigtownshire are the Union’s new Vice Presidents.
In today’s vote, taken at the Union’s council meeting in Glasgow, Mr McCornick secured the Presidential spot, after a keenly fought election contest which saw him run against sitting President Allan Bowie and fellow Vice President Rob Livesey. The unsuccessful Vice Presidential candidate was Lanarkshire’s Tom French.
After the election, NFU Scotland’s new President Mr McCornick commented: “Wow! There are difficult and challenging times ahead but I have been given a mandate by members to represent them – I see the membership as part of the team – and I am honoured to carry their message forward.
“It is a big operation to get our views on the importance of Scottish farming in to the highest places in government – and we have Scotland’s First Minister here today - so let’s get stuck in. We are on a mission to take this industry forward so let’s make it count.”
The elections took place at the Union’s council meeting at the Radisson Blu Hotel today (Tuesday 7 February 2017). The Union’s AGM, conference and annual dinner was staged at the same venue the day before (Monday 6 February). The presidential position is held for two years and a President can serve a maximum of two consecutive two-year terms. Under the terms of the constitution, Mr Kennedy and Mr Mitchell, being elected to the position of Vice President for the first time, will initially serve for two years before the post reverts to an annual election.
Notes for Editors
- Andrew McCornick, Barnbackle, Lochfoot, Dumfries - Andrew, who is married with three sons and a daughter, was born and brought up on a dairy farm in Wigtown. Andrew and wife Janice farm their 230+ ha unit with 160 suckler cows and 600 breeding ewes with a small herd of pedigree Charolais cattle. For as long as Andrew can remember, he has been a member of the Union, and got more involved when the consultation for Nithsdale NVZ came out. From there he went onto become vice chairman of the Dumfries branch, and then onto his previous role of Regional Board Chairman for Dumfries and Galloway. He also sat on the LFASS committee. Andrew was elected Vice President in February 2015
- Martin Kennedy, Lurgan Farm, Edradynate, Aberfeldy - Martin is married with three daughters and farms with his wife Jane in Highland Perthshire on a hill farm rising to 2,500ft. They have 600 breeding ewes, 30 continental cows and 30 Highlanders. Martin served two years as Highland Perthshire branch President, he first represented East Central region on the LFA committee in 2009 before being elected as Vice Chairman for three years. He is currently serving his second year as Chairman. He has also been chairman of Aberfeldy Show and Highland Games for the past six years.
- Gary Mitchell, West Galdenoch, Stranraer - Gary operated an arable and beef enterprise until September 2007 when he switched to dairying, starting with 130 cows while converting the farm. He now currently milks 800, with all female young-stock over three months old reared off farm under contract. He farms 750 acres of which 450 acres are owned and 300 acres rented (half on a five-year tenancy). Around 150 acres are zero grazed; 375 acres are gown for silage and 225 acres are in winter wheat. Gary was Milk Committee Chairman from 2012 to 2014 and he has been Regional Chairman for Dumfries and Galloway since February 2014.
- A photograph of the new officeholder team at NFU Scotland will be available from media@nfus.org.uk this afternoon.
Ends
Contact Bob Carruth on 0131 472 4006