Leading agricultural show welcomes new expertise from machinery and consultancy sectors
AgriScot, widely recognised as one of the UK’s premier farm business events, has announced two significant appointments to its board as it prepares to celebrate its 25th anniversary year. Fraser Tait, Key Account Manager for Kverneland Group, and Craig Bothwell, Senior Agricultural Consultant and Area Manager at SAC Consulting, are set to bring extensive industry knowledge and fresh perspectives to the event, scheduled for 18th November 2026, at the Royal Highland Centre, Ingliston.
Established in 2001, AgriScot has grown from a specialist dairy event into a comprehensive all-industry platform, attracting over 10,000 visitors annually and hosting more than 240 trade stands across four halls. The event serves as a vital hub for the agricultural sector, offering opportunities for business development, showcasing innovation, discussing industry trends, and engaging with policy makers. Agricultural shows such as AgriScot are crucial not only for economic exchange but also for fostering community, facilitating knowledge transfer, and providing essential social interaction for farmers amidst the challenges of the sector.
Fraser Tait’s career in agricultural machinery sales has spanned over two decades, following his upbringing on a Sutherland sheep farm. His current role at Kverneland Group, an international leader in agricultural implements and digital solutions with a significant UK presence, sees him overseeing the company’s Scottish dealer network. Tait has been a regular attendee at AgriScot for over 20 years, bringing a deep understanding of the machinery sector that is central to modern farming operations.
Craig Bothwell combines his role as a Senior Agricultural Consultant and Area Manager at SAC Consulting with hands-on experience, farming 60 suckler cows in Lanarkshire with his parents. SAC Consulting, the advisory arm of Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC), boasts a history stretching back to 1905 and provides independent, research-driven advice to over 7,800 farmers and rural businesses across Scotland. Bothwell’s consultancy work involves advising around 270 clients across various enterprises, including arable, vegetable, dairy, and hill livestock farms in the Lothians and Peeblesshire. He has attended AgriScot almost every year since beginning his college studies in 2010.
AgriScot Chairman Gilmour Lawrie emphasised the value of the new appointments, stating: “Fraser and Craig each bring a depth of knowledge and a network within their own sectors that will be hugely valuable to the AgriScot board. As we mark our 25th anniversary, it feels fitting to be welcoming fresh perspectives like theirs, and it’s exactly that mix of experience across different parts of the industry that has kept AgriScot relevant and progressive for a quarter of a century.”
Reflecting on his appointment, Tait expressed his honour: “AgriScot is a business show, and it always has a real buzz about it – from the moment the doors open until they close, the stands are busy with customers, and the day just flies past. When I was asked to join the board, I was taken aback and honoured to be asked to be part of the team that delivers such a well-respected event. I hope to bring my experience and knowledge of the machinery sector, and my understanding of the wider industry, to the role.”
Bothwell echoed this sentiment, highlighting the event’s multifaceted appeal: “It’s a great event and not one to be missed – a great mix of quality livestock, technical workshops and trade stands, all attending to do business. It’s also a great opportunity to see a lot of clients in one day, so it’s a day very well spent. It was an honour to be asked to join the board, and I hope in my first year to help run another great show for the special anniversary, as well as bring some new ideas and a fresh perspective. I never hear anything but positive feedback on AgriScot and I’m looking forward to being part of that.”
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Scotland’s agricultural sector is a significant part of its economy, with roughly 65% of the total land area dedicated to agricultural production. Events like AgriScot are crucial for supporting this sector, which faces ongoing pressures from economic shifts, environmental factors, and policy changes. The Royal Highland Centre in Ingliston, a major exhibition venue near Edinburgh Airport, hosts over one million visitors annually across various events, solidifying AgriScot’s standing in a prominent and accessible location.
Entry and parking for AgriScot are free, with registration currently open via www.agriscot.co.uk. The event is a key date in the agricultural calendar, consistently drawing thousands from across the UK to engage with the latest developments and forge essential industry connections.
