A conversation with Drew Young

From a 423-acre family farm in Girvan, to a thriving 3,000-acre enterprise, Drew Young has built his career on diversification, innovation, and a belief in the power of community. Alongside his family, Drew has transformed Girvan Mains into a business rooted in tradition, yet unafraid to embrace change.

Drew’s farming journey began at just seven years old when his family moved to Girvan Mains in South Ayrshire. By 18, he was running the farm full-time after his father stepped back.

“Back then, we were a beef unit, growing potatoes and grain. Today, we are focused on three main enterprises: beef production, potato growing and renewable energy.”

With 450-470 suckler cows and thousands of cattle finished each year, the Young family produces premium Scotch Beef supplied to customers including Campbells Prime Meats and Trump Turnberry Resort. A turning point came in 1989, when Drew became a founding director of Girvan Early Growers, a local growers’ cooperative established to supply supermarkets with early potatoes.

“It started because individually, none of us could meet the volumes or consistency supermarkets needed. Working together allowed us to invest in shared machinery, grading facilities, and storage. It has been key to our long-term success.”

Today, the co-op grows both early and main crop potatoes, with members using shared specialist equipment but running their own farms.

This collaborative approach has kept costs down, improved efficiency, and strengthened the local farming network.

A milestone moment came when Ayrshire New Potatoes were awarded Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) status. This recognition means that the potatoes can only carry the name if they are grown in Ayrshire, where the sandy soils, mild coastal climate, and generations of farming know-how combine to produce their distinctive flavour and quality.

“PGI status gives customers confidence that they are buying the genuine article. It also helps to secure the future for Ayrshire potato growers by highlighting the provenance and care that goes into every crop.”

In 2017, Girvan Mains installed an anaerobic digester next to a water treatment plant, generating electricity and producing dried digestate for animal bedding. It takes by-products from the beef enterprise, dung, and slurry, which makes their entire system more sustainable.

Despite always having an eye on what other changes or diversifications may be beneficial, Girvan Mains has narrowed its focus to maintain efficiency and resilience.

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Part of his success also comes from strong partnerships, including a long-standing relationship with SAC Consulting’s, Raymond Crerar, who has worked with the family for years, regularly visiting to review the business and forward planning.

“Raymond has been helping us for years now. It is great for James and David to have someone who they trust to talk to and learn from.”

In summer 2025, Drew took his first extended break from harvest in over 40 years to spend six weeks travelling around Australia. The trip combined family visits, rugby test matches, and an agricultural exploration. From the vast Brahman cattle stations of Western Australia to the Angus-dominated feedlots of Queensland, Drew was struck by both the differences and similarities to Scottish farming.

“The scale is extraordinary. You drive for hours and will still be on the same farm, but the fundamentals are the same: producing quality livestock efficiently."

He also noted the global importance of markets and the impact of consumer behaviour.

“Australia exports heavily to Asia, especially China and Japan, but there is growing demand to reduce hormones in beef production. That is being driven by consumer expectations - something we are seeing more of in Scotland too.”

For Drew, farming success has always gone hand in hand with supporting others. In 2022, he and his wife Ann celebrated their 60th birthdays by hosting a charity event in place of gifts. They raised an astonishing £70,000 for RSABI and Camphill Blair Drummond.

“It started as a casual idea to raise £10,000 for each charity, then it just snowballed. Friends, family, suppliers, and the local community were incredibly generous. We had auctions, raffles, and even the meal was sponsored with produce donated by our partners. It was a real team effort, and it blew us away.”

As Girvan Mains continues to grow, Drew is gradually stepping back from daily management to give his sons James and David increasing oversight and responsibility. His focus is on ensuring the farm remains resilient, adaptable, and open to new opportunities. Yet, as he points out, technology alone is not enough to create security.

“Running a modern farm means keeping a close eye on every penny and finding knowledgeable staff is one of the toughest challenges. It is the same in Australia, finding good people is difficult. Not only that, the cost of vital elements, like machinery, are through the roof. With outlay costs so high, it is no wonder that some smaller farms struggle because they cannot justify the costs.”

Despite the many pressures, Drew keeps his sense of humour about the practicalities of life on the farm.

“A lot of people who know us probably think we are mad, but that is just in the genes. It is part of what we do. Farming is ridiculously demanding work, but it is also incredibly rewarding when you see the chances you take paying off or the next generation taking the reins.”