Other overseas visitors who are cattle farmers themselves ‘back home’ were:

Berle Clay (and climbing friend Keith MacAdam, Professor of Physics, University of Kentucky), Lexington, Kentucky (USA).  See http://kycattle.org/default.aspx

 Highland Cattle breeders Jon and Erika Janett from Tschlin, (Switzerland).  See http://www.janett.ch/

 The President of the Australian Highland Cattle Society, and his wife, Peter and Pauline Henderson, Lismore, New South Wales (Australia).  See http://www.bogaidhealach.com/

 These visits provide a unique, first-hand opportunity meet, learn from others and discuss, even briefly, the cattle breeds, farming systems and techniques which they have developed/are developing to meet the particular markets, weather, environment and domestic pressures/challenges they face.   Globally, farming is changing – as it has done for generations, and it is surprising how universal many farming and food production issues are – whether in Kentucky, New South Wales, The Alps or on the West Side of Lewis!

All ages, and especially keen young crofters/farmers, can learn so much from visiting and working with experienced stock breeders overseas, for a short term or season. 

 It would good to see local/national programmes and Government initiatives which would encourage and financially support enthusiastic young crofters to undertake such educational course work/study trips overseas – and in turn, offer the same to others from the mainland/overseas who are keen to learn about how crofting stock production has/is developing in the Outer Hebrides.

 We look forward to meeting more visitors in 2011, and learning from them!