"The greater the number of young people we can reach, the more we can encourage them to choose lamb from butchers’ chillers and shop shelves, to inspire their families to do the same, and to consider working in the industry, whether as butchers, farmers, auctioneers or chefs."
Farmers have been asked to help donate towards a campaign which educates children about the value of Scottish lamb on St Andrew's day.
Neil Wilson, executive director of the Institute of Auctioneers and Appraisers in Scotland (IAAS) has appealed to farmers and crofters to donate Scottish lamb and help provide real life experiences and lessons about the benefits of lamb in education facilities across Scotland on St Andrew's Day (November 30).
The 'Lamb Bank' campaign has delivered over 2.75 tonnes of lamb to secondary schools across Scotland since its inception in 2020, as part of the wider Lamb for St Andrew's Day initiative to promote the merits of Scottish lamb to UK consumers.
Mr Wilson said around 22,000 portions of lamb have been delivered each year into classrooms with children having the opportunity, which they may not usually have, to learn recipes, undertake activities and to understand the environmental credentials of lamb produced in Scotland.
The charitable initiative has asked sheep farmers and others in the industry to donate a lamb, or the value of a lamb or any sheep, which IAAS can then arrange to be butchered, packaged and delivered to schools.
"Every year the Lamb Bank has gained momentum, and we are extremely grateful to all those who donate and spread the word," says Mr Wilson.
"It makes a huge difference to what we can achieve, and the response we get from teachers and school pupils shows the power of a really tangible, hands-on project like this.
"Again this year, we are asking more farmers and others in the supply chain to generously donate for the overall benefit of the sector.
"The greater the number of young people we can reach, the more we can encourage them to choose lamb from butchers' chillers and shop shelves, to inspire their families to do the same, and to consider working in the industry, whether as butchers, farmers, auctioneers or chefs."
The Lamb for St Andrew's Day campaign has been recognised for positively impacting the mart prime lamb price, which has tracked upwards throughout the month of November over the last four years.
Mr Wilson addedL "This clearly demonstrates the impact of a whole industry getting behind a focused campaign and how it can help us all promote our product and support prices at a critical time of the year."
Last year, the Lamb Bank achieved widespread social media activity and fun at the marts.
The Ingram family at Logie Durno Sheep sprayed a blue saltire on a sale lamb which was sold by auctioneer Colin Slessor at ANM for the sum of £200, all of which the Ingrams donated to the Lamb Bank.
The Sheep Game's Cammy Wilson has also got involved in the campaign to raise the profile of lamb and cooking over the years.
Nicola Wordie, a sheep farming in Scotland who runs the social media platform Livestock_farmher, has said she will proactively support this year's Lamb Bank to help inspire the next generation.
"Since this campaign started, we have supported it as it allows children to try and taste Scottish lamb, learn about the qualities of red meat and how important local food chains are," she added.
"I would encourage other farmers to support where they can, and to have fun getting creative on social media as well, posting and resharing as much as possible to spread the word and widen the support."
Donations can be made to the value of store, prime and breeding lambs, cull and breeding ewes and tups to the Lamb Bank via any Scottish auction market, by donating online here.
