Ep 4. Episode 4

This Farming Life season 2 episode 4 follows the lives of six farming families in Scotland, showcasing their efforts, highs and lows, as they try to make a living from the land. This particular episode titled "Episode 4", delves into the world of beef and sheep farmers.

The episode starts with Carole and husband Jim on their farm in Carron Valley. They have a busy week ahead as they are getting ready for the "Forfar Primestock Show" where they hope to sell their prized heifer, which they have raised over the past two years. Jim and Carole have entered the competition many times but have never won. This year they are hoping to change that and have been working hard to get their heifer in top form. As they prepare for the show, we get to see the hard work that goes into presenting their cattle. They give their heifer a special haircut and even give her a pedicure.

Meanwhile, in Perthshire, we meet the McClure family who have been farming on their land for over 500 years. Andy and his wife Tracey inherited the land from his parents and they now run the farm together with their three children. Andy runs a pedigree sheep enterprise and has won several awards at local shows. On this episode, he is preparing to enter the sheep show in Stirling in a few days' time. We get to see him carefully selecting his best lambs to enter the competition, and he explains the criteria the judges use to pick the winner.

Next, we visit Colin and his wife Sam who run a hill farm in Ayrshire. Colin has been farming all his life and is now passing on his experience to his sons, Callum and Angus. The family has a busy week ahead as they are preparing for their annual "Blackface Ram Sale." Colin has bred some prize-winning rams and hopes to get a good price for them this year. As they get the rams ready for the sale, we see how the family works together to get everything organised.

Later in the episode, we meet the Dows. Euan and Kirsteen have been running their farm for over 40 years in Morayshire. They recently retired and passed over the farm to their daughter Heather and her husband Alistair. Heather went to college to study agriculture and has now taken over the running of the farm. Heather wants to diversify the business to include a holiday let to bring in extra income. We see her showing potential guests around the farm, showcasing the beautiful scenery and talking about the sustainable farming methods they use.

The episode also features the Struthers family who run a farm in the heart of the Scottish Borders. They have a small holding with cattle, sheep, and pigs, which they sell at the local farmers' market. Tom and his wife Laura are passionate about their animals and believe in sustainable, ethical farming. We see Tom taking the cattle to market and setting up their stall at the market. We also see them interacting with their loyal customers, who are all keen to support local producers.

Finally, we visit Argyll to meet the MacIntyre family. They run a mixed farm with beef and sheep and have recently started a Highland cattle enterprise. Bobby and Anne have four children, and the whole family helps out on the farm. They take us through the challenges of breeding Highland cattle and how they are working to market their beef to local restaurants.

In conclusion, "This Farming Life" season 2 episode 4 offers a fascinating insight into the world of beef and sheep farming in Scotland. The episode shows the dedication, hard work, and passion that goes into running a farm in today's society. Each family featured has a unique story to tell, and we get to see some of the highs and lows that come with farming. It's a beautiful reminder of the importance of farmers and their contribution to society.