The Border Union Agricultural Society (BUAS) welcomed over 1,200 young people to participate in practical farming training as part of their annual Kelso Rural School Day.

The event, held since 2013, is designed to familiarize young people with all aspects of rural life, including farm safety, livestock, food production and much more.

During the event, children watched the demonstrations, covering everything from slaughter and haircuts to packing haylage and collecting honey.

BUAS Event Coordinator Marion Stevens said: “After working for several years for the benefit of society, it’s good to see that this event is gaining momentum. We must pay tribute to our wonderful directors, exhibitors and stewards who really come together to make this day a success, whether it be car parking or demonstrations. It’s a lot of work, but it’s incredibly useful to see children so busy and inspired by everything they see. ”

One of the highlights of the day was cattle on display - a large sow and its pigs, sheep of rare breeds and their lambs, three charming calves and a miniature Shetland pony. Shearing was also no less interesting, where experts demonstrated their skills and abilities to shear a whole flock of sheep in just a few hours.

The chairman of the society, Neil Thomson, added: “This is really a fantastic day for everyone, including many of our volunteers and wonderful exhibitors who have dedicated their time to work well at their stands.”

And BUAS Executive Director Mags Clark said: “The Society is undoubtedly one of the most exciting events of the year. Listening to the buzz and seeing all the faces of the children on the day of interactive learning is one of the most useful things we do. So much so that we look forward to doing it again next year. ”