The Gammie family have been farming Westerton since the 1920s, when James Gammie Senior moved to the area from near Huntly. Today, the farm is run by father-and-daughter duo David Gammie and Fiona Smith, who are both partners in the business.
David Gammie has been a farmer all his life, taking over the management of the farm from his father in 1998. He currently works full-time, focusing primarily on the farming operations. Fiona joined the family business in 2014 and acts as the overall manager of the shop. She is also collaborating with her dad, David, to take on responsibilities for the farming side of the business. Another key member of the Westerton team is Ross Adamson, Fiona’s cousin’s husband, who serves as the retail manager.
Westerton Farm is located in Aberdeenshire, almost halfway between Aberdeen and Dundee. The farm is in an ideal location for passing trade, being just 3 miles from Laurencekirk and the busy A90 which links the two cities.
Westerton Farmers is the Agritourism Monitor Farm for the Scottish Enterprise region.
Westerton Farm launched their own farm shop, Farm to Table, in 2021. The shop features a wide variety of the farm’s own produce, alongside locally sourced items such as garlic, chili, jams, honey, cereals, coffee, and freshly baked bread.
Every October, Westerton runs a popular pumpkin patch, attracting over 1,500 cars during the three weeks leading up to Halloween. Pick your own vegetables is another popular activity, with visitors coming to harvest their own fresh produce directly from the fields.
Westerton is also home to friendly goats, a play park, and barn that hosts various events. Throughout the year the farm organises three to four farmers’ markets, collaborates with small businesses for food pop-ups and retail showcases, and holds community days and fundraisers.
Westerton is predominantly an arable farm which extends to over 400 acres. The primary crops grown include barley, wheat, potatoes, pumpkins and other vegetables. As well as crops, the farm has invested in a small flock of goats and is looking to increase their number of livestock.
During the programme, the Westerton Farmers team will focus on