Scottish Diversified Farm of the Year 2025 Finalist - Tours, Markets and Agritourism

We are thrilled to announce that Solsgirth Home Farm has been named a finalist in the Scottish Diversified Farm of the Year category at the Scottish Agriculture Awards 2025. It’s an incredible honour to be recognised among Scotland’s most innovative farming businesses, celebrating the resilience, creativity, and community spirit of family farms.

We will be at the awards ceremony in Glasgow on 23rd of October 2025, bringing together the very best of Scottish agriculture. We are delighted to be listed alongside our fellow finalists:

• Kitchen Coos and Ewes

• Thorabella Farm

  
  

Last year’s winner was Boghead Farm, Marshalls Farm Shop, Kintore, run by Kenneth and Moira Marshall and their family, a true inspiration for family farming businesses.

AgriScot and the Awards

AgriScot is Scotland’s premier agriculture and rural business event, bringing together farmers, producers, and industry experts from across the country. The Awards are an integral part of this event, recognising the most innovative, resilient, and community-focused farming businesses in Scotland. Across multiple categories, the awards celebrate farms that demonstrate excellence in diversification, sustainability, innovation, and contribution to local communities.

Being named a finalist is a huge achievement, reflecting not only the hard work of our team at Solsgirth Home Farm but also our commitment to creating a sustainable, welcoming, and educational experience for visitors. This recognition also helps raise awareness of our farm to a wider audience, providing opportunities to connect with other businesses, farmers, and food enthusiasts who share our passion for rural life and sustainable farming.

Journey from Traditional Farming to Diversified Success

Solsgirth Home Farm started as a conventional mixed livestock farm, rearing native breed cattle, sheep, and pigs, alongside a variety of birds including rare breed chickens, ducks, geese, and turkeys. Over time, we have expanded into more unusual species such as emus and rheas, while our beehives support biodiversity and provide honey and wax. Our apple trees supply juice and cider while offering forage for our bees.

Today, our farm offers much more than produce. Through our monthly farmers’ market, accommodation, workshops, educational tours, and creative events, we have created a dynamic, multi-faceted business that remains firmly rooted in agriculture. The market alone hosts up to 60 local traders, offering food, crafts, and artisan products from across Central Scotland, all under cover in our Big Barn and Old Dairy, making it perfect for all-weather trading.

Education and agritourism are central to our mission. We regularly welcome school groups, Cubs and Scouts, and community visitors to experience farm life, understand food production, and engage with environmental care. Renovated farm buildings now host workshops, coffee roasting, and farm-to-fork cooking demonstrations, giving visitors hands-on experiences alongside our traditional farming operations.

Why We Diversified

We decided to diversify to connect people with farming. Our first lambing tours sold out in their first year, proving there was a strong appetite for authentic experiences.

At the same time, we faced the wider challenges of traditional farming: rising costs, market uncertainty, and pressure on small family farms. Diversification offered a way to future-proof our business while creating opportunities for growth, additional income, and skills development.

Our diversification strategy is guided by three key values:

1. Community connection - creating a welcoming farm through markets, workshops, and events.

2. Education and food transparency - helping visitors understand where their food comes from.

3. Sustainability and resilience - building a financially, environmentally, and socially sustainable farm.

   
   

Sustainability is embedded throughout the farm. Our Big Barn has 280 solar panels, two EV chargers, and energy-efficient heating using ground and water source pumps. Our orchard and herbal leys support biodiversity, and restored barns and outbuildings accommodate artisan businesses, a coffee roastery, and a catering kitchen, all carefully repurposed to preserve both heritage and function.

The Impact of Diversification

Diversification has transformed Solsgirth Home Farm. We have created multiple income streams from markets, workshops, accommodation, and events, protecting the farm from agricultural volatility. The impact extends beyond finance. We have created local jobs, supported tradespeople during renovations, and developed new skills in our team, including poultry butchery, event management, and social media marketing.

The farm-to-fork story is a key part of our identity. Visitors see everything from chicks to Highland cattle, learning how food is produced and appreciating the care that goes into sustainable farming. Diversification has also boosted our brand and visibility. Our markets are a fixture of the local calendar, attracting families, tourists, and food enthusiasts.

What Our Customers Say

Our customers are at the heart of everything we do. We welcome families, school groups, older adults, tourists, and local food lovers, and actively listen to their feedback through reviews, social media, and in-person comments.

For example, visitors suggested refreshments at workshops, now a popular feature. Families requested afternoon tours, and we adapted. Dietary requests for vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options are now incorporated.

One workshop guest shared:

“Helen was lovely and informative. Service was lovely and snacks were superpower. Shortcake yummy and apple muffins fab. Will come back again.”— Jenny Anderson

Accessibility improvements, such as resurfacing the car park, came directly from visitor feedback, benefiting wheelchair users, families with prams, and older visitors.

Listening to our customers helps us grow and ensures every visitor feels welcomed, valued, and part of our farm community.

Collaboration: Working Together to Grow

Collaboration has been central to our growth. Partnerships include:

• RHET - school tours and Farm-to-Fork days for over 400 children.

• Charities like Home-Start - safe, inclusive spaces for community engagement.

• Tourism networks: Scottish Agritourism, Visit Scotland, Discover Clackmannanshire - increasing visibility and knowledge sharing.

• Scottish Beekeepers Association - workshops and honey production.

  
  

Our farmers market is a hub for local producers, artisans, and makers. Collaboration creates mutual benefits, strengthens the local economy, and inspires new ideas such as the coffee roastery and small artisan business units.

Jan, our director, acts as Regional Destination Leader for Perth and Kinross, mentoring local agritourism businesses. Sharing knowledge and promoting local initiatives strengthens the rural community.

Looking Ahead: Our Vision for the Future

we often remind ourselves that diversification is a journey, not a destination. Looking ahead five to ten years, our hope is that the farm will continue to grow as a thriving hub for sustainable agritourism, education, and local enterprise.

We see our event spaces and workshops expanding, giving us more opportunities to welcome people to the farm and to share the story of food and farming in Scotland. We are passionate about supporting new businesses with an environmental focus, strengthening our partnerships with local producers, and continuing to innovate with eco-friendly tourism, creative food offerings, and accessible farm experiences.

Our vision is simple but heartfelt, to remain a resilient and welcoming destination where people can connect with farming, food, and the natural world, while celebrating everything that makes Scottish rural life so special.

Join Us at Solsgirth Home Farm

There has never been a better time to visit. From family-friendly farm tours, markets, workshops, and fresh produce, to cosy accommodation, there is something for everyone.

Stay updated on our upcoming markets, events, and workshops through our website and social media. Come and see why we are proud to be finalists in the Scottish Diversified Farm of the Year 2025, we look forward to welcoming you!

Final Results