The number of young women enrolling in an agriculture course in the Scottish Borders has reached a record high. Stephanie Crozier, a 16-year-old who grew up on a farm near Hawick, is one of 12 female students on the National Certificate (NC) Agriculture course at Borders College. This increase in female enrollment is a trend seen across similar courses in Scotland. Women now make up 46% of students on agriculture courses run by Scotland's Rural College (SRUC), up from 42% in the previous year. Stephanie expressed her love for agriculture and her hope for a future in the industry.

Borders College previously struggled to make its rural skills program viable, with only 10 students enrolling in the NC Agriculture course in the previous academic year. However, lecturers are now reporting their highest ever numbers, with almost half of the students being teenage girls. Andrew Johnson, the head of rural skills, stated that they have always had girls applying, but the current numbers are unprecedented. In addition to the 25 students studying NC Agriculture, there are 18 more enrolled in the National 5 Modern Agriculture course, and 12 apprentices in agriculture and mixed farming.

Mr. Johnson emphasized the importance of attracting young people to the agriculture industry, as there are job opportunities available and the industry needs new talent to drive it forward. The UK government's Environment, Food and Rural Affairs committee has previously warned about the potential permanent damage to the farming industry due to a lack of available workers. The Scottish government has also launched a Women in Agriculture taskforce to address barriers preventing women from making an impact in the sector.

Not all of the young women on the Borders College course have farming backgrounds. Bethany Scott, for example, had no agricultural experience before enrolling in an animal care course. However, she was drawn to the practical aspects of the agriculture course and enjoys the busy and dynamic nature of farming. Borders College managers are confident that the upward trend in enrollment in agriculture courses will continue, with 18 school pupils already participating in their agriculture pathway program.

Several students shared their positive experiences and aspirations for a career in farming. Emily Mulligan, who has secured part-time work at a local auction mart, recommends farming to undecided school pupils. Jessica Damerell, who grew up working on a family sheep farm, expressed her love for being outside and her desire to pursue farming as a career. The National Farmers' Union Scotland (NFU Scotland) has welcomed the increased interest in the sector, highlighting the passion young people have for agriculture and their eagerness to learn more.

In conclusion, the number of young women enrolling in agriculture courses in the Scottish Borders has reached a record high. This trend is seen across similar courses in Scotland, with women now making up a significant percentage of students. Borders College has experienced a significant increase in enrollment, particularly among teenage girls. The agriculture industry is actively seeking young talent to address labor shortages and drive the industry forward. Students have expressed their enthusiasm for farming

Original news source: Record number of girls on Borders College farming course (BBC)

– News Summary
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– Opinion Poll
Instructions: Have the class form pairs or small groups. Ask them to discuss and share their opinions on the following question: "What factors do you think have led to the increase in female enrollment in agriculture courses in the Scottish Borders?" After their discussion, conduct a class poll by asking each group to share one or two factors that they think are most influential. Write these factors on the board and discuss them as a class.
– Sketch It
Instructions: Provide each student with a piece of paper and a pen or pencil. Ask them to choose a scene or concept from the article and sketch it on their paper. After a few minutes, have the students share their sketches with a partner or small group. They should explain their drawing and discuss how it relates to the article.
– Keyword Taboo
Instructions: Write down a list of keywords or important terms from the article on separate index cards. Divide the class into two teams. One student from each team will come to the front of the class and pick a card without looking at it. They must then describe the keyword to their team without using the word itself or any related words. The team must guess the keyword within a certain time limit. Alternate between teams and keep score. The team with the most correct guesses wins.
– Future Predictions
Instructions: In pairs or small groups, have the students discuss and make predictions about the future of the agriculture industry in Scotland. They should consider factors such as the increasing enrollment of women in agriculture courses, the need for new talent in the industry, and potential challenges or opportunities. After their discussion, ask each group to share their predictions with the class and facilitate a class discussion around the topic.

The number of young women enrolling in an agriculture course in the ? Borders has reached a record high. Stephanie Crozier, a 16-year-old who grew up on a farm near Hawick, is one of 12 female students on the ? Certificate (NC) Agriculture course at Borders College. This increase in female enrollment is a trend seen across similar courses in Scotland. ? now make up 46% of students on agriculture courses run by Scotland's Rural College (SRUC), up from 42% in the previous year. Stephanie expressed her love for agriculture and her hope for a future in the industry. Borders College previously struggled to make its rural skills program viable, with only 10 students enrolling in the NC Agriculture course in the previous academic year. However, lecturers are now reporting their ? ever numbers, with almost half of the students being teenage girls. Andrew Johnson, the head of rural skills, stated that they have always had girls ?, but the current numbers are unprecedented. In addition to the 25 students studying NC Agriculture, there are 18 more enrolled in the National 5 Modern Agriculture course, and 12 apprentices in agriculture and mixed farming. Mr. Johnson emphasized the importance of attracting young people to the agriculture industry, as there are job ? available and the industry needs new talent to drive it forward. The UK government's Environment, Food and Rural Affairs committee has previously warned about the potential ? damage to the farming industry due to a lack of available workers. The Scottish government has also launched a Women in Agriculture ? to address barriers preventing women from making an impact in the sector. Not all of the young women on the Borders College course have farming backgrounds. ? Scott, for example, had no agricultural experience before enrolling in an ? care course. However, she was drawn to the practical aspects of the ? course and enjoys the busy and dynamic nature of farming. Borders College managers are confident that the upward trend in enrollment in agriculture courses will continue, with 18 school pupils already participating in their agriculture pathway program. Several ? shared their positive experiences and aspirations for a career in farming. Emily Mulligan, who has secured part-time work at a local auction mart, recommends farming to undecided school pupils. Jessica Damerell, who grew up working on a family sheep farm, expressed her love for being outside and her desire to pursue farming as a career. The National Farmers' Union Scotland (NFU Scotland) has welcomed the increased interest in the ?, highlighting the passion young people have for agriculture and their eagerness to ? more. In conclusion, the number of young women enrolling in agriculture courses in the Scottish Borders has reached a record high. This trend is seen across similar courses in Scotland, with women now making up a significant percentage of students. Borders College has experienced a significant increase in enrollment, particularly among teenage ?. The agriculture industry is actively seeking young talent to address labor shortages and drive the industry forward. Students have expressed their ? for farming

1. What are some potential barriers that may prevent women from making an impact in the agriculture sector?
2. How do you think the increase in female enrollment in agriculture courses will impact the industry?
3. Do you think it is important for young people to consider a career in agriculture? Why or why not?
4. What are some potential benefits of having more women in the agriculture industry?
5. How would you feel if you were a young woman interested in agriculture but faced barriers to pursuing a career in the field?
6. Do you think the government should do more to support and encourage women in agriculture? Why or why not?
7. What are some potential reasons why there has been an increase in female enrollment in agriculture courses in Scotland?
8. How do you think the agriculture industry can attract more young people to pursue careers in the field?
9. What do you think are some of the challenges faced by the agriculture industry in Scotland?
10. Do you think it is important for agriculture courses to include practical aspects and hands-on experience? Why or why not?
11. How do you think the agriculture industry can address the labor shortages it is currently facing?
12. What are some potential career opportunities in the agriculture industry?
13. How would you feel if you were a young person considering a career in agriculture and were told that there were job opportunities available in the field?
14. Do you think it is important for young people to have a passion for farming in order to pursue a career in the industry? Why or why not?
15. What are some potential ways to encourage more young people, particularly young women, to consider careers in agriculture?

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