SCOTTISH rugby player Stafford McDowall, who hails from this region, has thrown his six foot four inches might behind a wellbeing movement for farmers.
For farming families one of the most difficult conversations can be succession, but Stafford says it’s a weight off his mind to already have had that conversation.
Speaking out for the Farmstrong campaign, he says he admires his father, Fergus McDowall, for being upfront that running a dairy farm was “his dream” and putting no pressure on his son to follow in his footsteps.
Stafford had his name down to study agriculture at Newcastle University as an 18-year-old, but he deferred the place to break into the professional rugby ranks, juggling training sessions with farm jobs. The chance to make rugby his livelihood then came knocking and Stafford swapped Kirkcudbright for Glasgow.
Now, whenever he gets time off, the 26-year-old enjoys returning home and is studying business management, which he hopes will be useful in the long-term when he takes over the reins.
Stafford has recently become engaged to Lauren, and says keeping in the loop with what’s happening on the farm is very important to keeping his mental health on track.
He said: “That year after leaving school, when I was 18, is probably the longest spell I’ve spent working on the farm and it made me realise what a lonely job farming can be.
“Like a lot of farmers, I’m not great at sharing my feelings and I really admire the way Farmstrong is encouraging people that it’s ok to open up and talk about how they are doing. It’s so important there is help there for people who need it.
“I’m lucky that eventually I have come around by myself to the idea that I want to take over the farm. Dad’s been great at not lumping pressure on.”
The McDowalls run over 1000 Holstein milkers, with their 24-a-side swing-over parlour in use 18 hours a day. Milk is sold to Muller Wiseman Dairies.
Stafford is aware that for many farmers, who perhaps haven’t had the opportunity to live away from the family farm, that taking on the mantle can bring about added stress and family tensions.
He grew up with a strong family work ethic, with dad on the farm, mum Tina working as a nurse and older sisters, Katrina, Charlotte and Rebecca.
“My route back to the farm will not be a normal transition; working at home and gradually taking on more responsibility,” reflects Stafford.
“But I do know that rugby and farming have a lot in common such as hard work and resilience. My practical knowledge is fairly limited, but I hope I’ll make up for it in enthusiasm. Having moved away from the farm to the city it’s only now really that I appreciate what a wonderful place to grow up it was.”
“One of the big problems is staffing; finding people who want to work with dairy cows,” says Stafford. “I imagine by the time I come home it will be even more difficult.”
Stafford made his Scotland debut in a Rugby World Cup warm-up match against Italy in 2023 and, in January was selected for the 2024 Guinness Six Nations squad, making his Six Nations debut against Ireland.
He had his first summer tour with the national team this year and a highlight was being named as co-captain for Scotland’s opening match of this Skyscanner Americas tour, scoring a first international try in the win over Canada in Ottawa. The icing on the cake was that his father took a rare break to see him in action.
Fergus himself played rugby at top amateur level and was Stafford’s coach until he turned 16 and got a scholarship to Merchiston in Edinburgh. Driving him all over the country for training sessions and matches – then getting up at 5 am for milking – was a way of life.
To be made co-captain on only his third Scotland appearance was a huge honour. He led the side out alongside Edinburgh flanker Luke Crosbie.
This year’s whirlwind summer is in stark contrast to just a year ago, when Stafford was sat down by Glasgow Warriors managing director Al Kellock and told an extension to his expiring contract was unlikely.
“It looked like I’d be coming home to the farm earlier than I’d expected,” he recalled.
The weeks of not being picked to play were “tough”, he admits and he was glad to have Lauren to turn to.
He added: “When you are lucky enough to play rugby for a living it feels bad complaining when the tough times come. But when all you want to be doing is playing it can be really difficult.”
However, work with sports psychologists, putting emphasis on being mentally strong as well as physically at the top of his game, has helped Stafford work on his mindset as well as – in common with Farmstrong – overall wellbeing.
