THEY have all been married to a farmer, born into a farming family or worked on farms.

More than 100 women from all over Scotland have come together to form the country’s first Farmers’ Wives Choir.

Inspired by the success of the Military Wives, the ladies have been making round trips of up to 400 miles every Sunday afternoon to sing together.

Choirmaster Kate Picken – a farmer’s wife – has to time practices so some of her members can get home for milking.

Kate, 53, of Milton Farm, Kirkcudbrightshire, said: “If you come from a busy farm, it is not always that easy to get away.

“There are times, like harvesting, during the farming calendar that are busier than others.
So when we started the choir, we all knew that there would be weeks when some ladies might not be able to make it to practice.

“We set the time of the practice quite early in the afternoon, so everyone could be home to help out with whatever they have to do.

“The ladies also have CDs of the songs we have been learning. So I am sure there has been a fair bit of singing to animals during milking and while out ploughing fields.”

The choir were created to perform at a concert to mark the 75th anniversary of the Scottish Association of Young Farmers Clubs (SAYFC).

Nancy Guthrie

The concert, Staying Alive @ 75, aims to celebrate the best of Scottish talent from the farming community.

Music teacher Kate, whose husband Dick, 57, runs the family’s dairy and sheep farm, said: “The idea behind the choir was that we wanted to encourage women to come from far and wide to take part in one shared project.

“We have many generations of women taking part – many from the same family – and it is lovely that they are getting the chance to meet and bond by singing together.

“Some have been involved in choirs before, while, for others, this is their first time. It has been lovely hearing their individual stories about why they wanted to be involved.”

The choir will sing a number of farming-related songs, including Sting’s Fields of Gold, when they perform at the SAYFC concert at the Hydro in Glasgow on St Andrew’s Day on November 30.

And the women can’t wait to get on stage.

Lorna Jackson, 55, of Lanarkshire, said: “I watched Gareth Malone on TV training ordinary people to be in choirs. I saw the buzz they got from it and it made me want to experience the feeling.”

Irene MacArthur, of Cawdor, near Nairn, said she wanted to get involved as soon as she heard about the choir and the SAYFC concert.

But the 400-mile round trip almost put her off.

She added: “The only negative thought was the trip from Nairn to Lanark for practices. But a few months later, I left home early one Sunday morning with my daughter Katrina and never for one moment did I doubt what I was doing.

“Our first choir practice was all I ever imagined and more, as I was meeting up with old friends and making new ones. It has been fantastic and now I can’t wait until our performance at the Hydro.”

Choir's Jackie Craig

For a couple of the women, singing their hearts out at the anniversary show will be an emotional occasion.

Caroline McMiken, 31, of Castle Douglas, Kirkcudbrightshire, was born and brought up on a dairy farm. She said: “Singing Ain’t No Mountain High Enough is particularly special to me.

“When I was a child, I battled leukaemia three times and had a bone barrow transplant at the age of seven.

“The ward I was treated in is now called Schiehallion after the Scottish hill. The name was chosen as it suggests life can be an uphill struggle climbing the mountains in front of us but once you get to the top, the view is beautiful. And life is so much easier coming down the hill.

“This is how we all felt when we were battling the illness. I know I am lucky to be here, so I enjoy life and live it to the max.”

Ailsa Wilkie, 54, who married a dairy producer 35 years ago, agrees with Caroline’s sentiment.

The 54-year-old, of South Lanarkshire, said: “I had a bone marrow transplant in 1998, so I feel really blessed and lucky to be here and be able to sing, which I enjoy.”

Anne Bankier, 48, who lives on a dairy farm in West Lothian, joined the group to pay tribute to someone she holds very close to her heart.

She said: “I lost my husband William in July so I’m singing in the Farmers’ Wives Choir in his memory.”

Apart from forging new friendships and building on old ones, singing and being a part of the choir holds many benefits.

Wilma Paton, 36, of Kilwinning, Ayrshire, said she is enjoying every minute of being a part of the group and that singing helps her to unwind.

She added: “I find singing and music very therapeutic and relaxing and a great way to reduce stress levels.”

Janet Storry, 51, of Lanarkshire, also agreed.

She said: “Singing really does lift your spirits.

“I think Fields of Gold is so appropriate to the farming community. Whenever I hear it, I instantly think of rolling hills, sunshine and the breeze swaying through the crops.”

Farmer’s wife Agnes Jackson, 75, of Biggar, added: “I’ve been learning the words to Fields of Gold while bringing in the bales from the barley field.”

Beth Craig, 52, of Ayrshire, who was born into a farming family and married a farmer, said: “I feel all the songs we are singing are connected to things I have done in my life.”

Nancy Guthrie, 77, who worked with her husband on their dairy farm in Ayrshire, added: “After the success of the Military Wives Choir, I thought this was an opportunity not to be missed.”

Jennifer Picken – daughter of choir director Kate – is also in on the act.

The 28-year-old, who works on the family farm as an animal nutritionist, said: “I have always enjoyed singing and I’m in this choir to support my mother.”

For more details or to buy tickets for the Staying Alive @ 75 concert on November 30, visit www.sayfc.org