Dingwall harvest thanksgiving after a challenging summer
FARMERS and crofters across Ross-shire working under pressure to balance their many obligations are being reminded that they’re not alone.
They are being invited along with the wider churchgoing community to an inaugural joint harvest thanksgiving in Dingwall next month.
It follows a partnership approach between the local mart and a congregation on the Black Isle.
Rev Calum Iain Macleod, minister of Ferintosh and Resolis Free Church, reached out to Dingwall Mart to see how the church community could better support farmers and crofters – particularly as the recent weather has made this year’s harvest more challenging.
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Though there has been an annual carol service held at the mart in the past, this is the first time that a joint harvest service has taken place.
It will be held in Dingwall Free Church on Sunday, November 3 at 2pm, followed by a traybake buffet. Any donations on the day will go towards RSABI and Farmstrong Scotland – both of whom help provide practical, emotional and financial support to everyone involved in the Scottish agricultural industry.
Calum Iain explained: “Whilst I know for a number of years individual congregations have held their own harvest thanksgiving services, it’s good to be able to come together and do something on a bigger scale for everyone across Ross-shire.
“Due to the wetter summer this year’s harvest hasn’t been easy, but we still want to gather and give thanks.
“We all have a number of farms and crofts around our communities, and at a time of huge stress and working all hours of the day to keep up, we want farmers and crofters to know that the church prays for them and cares for them.
“I really appreciate the partnership approach with the mart to make this event happen.”
Grant Macpherson, managing director, Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd added: “The mart is hugely busy at the moment and there’s sales happening all the time, so we’re grateful this harvest thanksgiving event is able to be held in one of the nearby churches.
“Mental health and wellbeing support is a really important topic for the farming community, and the support from local churches is appreciated.”
