IT was written in the stars that Andy Williamson would one day get the RHASS long service medal.
And that day has finally come as he prepares for the presentation at Dumfries Show today.
Andy has been the farm manager at Dalswinton Estate for the last 12 years but has worked there for the Landale family for 35 years.
He started as a shepherd stockman, then becoming tractor man and finally manager.
“I’ve done a bit of everything,” he said.
During his time at the estate he says the farming side of things have changed “quite dramatically”, adding: “When I started in 1989 there were 14 people employed on the land on the estate and now there’s only four full time.
“We had a joiner, full time mechanic, fencers, etc. It was a proper old fashioned estate.”
Changes in machinery and buildings over the years mean things have got a lot easier.
They stopped with sheep after Foot and Mouth and now have 550 suckler cows but are making the transition to 800 dairy cows.
And with that change looming, along with his own 60th birthday, Andy has decided it’s a good time for retirement.
He said: “It’s always been the Landales here, Sir David first and now his son Peter. My kids were born and married here. We have had a good life here.”
He’s originally from Closeburn and initially worked at an estate at Penpont after leaving school and before going to Dalswinton.
His father Jim Williamson worked for Mitchell Rome at Kirkbog Farm but died of cancer when Andy was just nine. He says Mitchell was very good to his dad.
As such his mum Nancy told him to apply for the show’s medal before she passed away in 2019.
“This is the year I decided to,” said Andy. “I knew I’d be eligible for it now.
“I am looking forward to getting it.”
He will be presented with the award in the main ring before the grand parade by Hugh McClymont.
