Darren beats dyslexia to win prize for agriculture

A STUDENT from Oatridge College has brought Scotland's Landbased Learner of the Year trophy back to the institution for the fifth time in six years.

Darren Broadley, 17, has also been named Agricultural Learner of the Year by Lantra, the sector skills council for Scotland.

He collected his prizes at a ceremony at Crieff Hydro Hotel, where three other Oatridge students also saw success.

Agricultural engineer Graeme Brown was Modern Apprentice of the Year, while Christopher Adamson, 16, was Equine Learner of the Year and Lee Eaglen, 21, was runner-up for Horticultural Learner of the Year.

Darren is dyslexic, but he successfully completed a Modern Apprenticeship in Mixed Farming at Oatridge and has now gone on to study for a Higher National Certificate in agriculture. He works for dairy farmers John Pollock and Sons at Bonnybridge.

He said: "I just can't believe this has happened. I love my job and just getting on with it, and never expected that I would win awards or anything. Oatridge College helped me a lot and my tutors were very patient when I was struggling because of the dyslexia."