Emma Ruxton Transcript: Transcript
Student Name: Emma Ruxton
Course: BSc Rural Business Management
Campus: Aberdeen
Janis: Welcome to the SAC learning and teaching podcast. My name is Janis Doyle and we’re here at the SAC Craibstone campus, just outside Aberdeen. Today I’m with Emma, a 4th year student studying for a degree in Rural Business Management. Hello Emma.
Emma: Hello, Janis.
Janis: Now it’s a bright sunny day and we’re here outside on campus where you’ve been based for the past three and a half years. Tell me, why did you choose to study the Rural Business Management course here at SAC?
Emma: Well I chose to do Rural Business Management because I come from a farming background and have an interest in that and also have an interest in business. And the business management course combines the both of them. I chose SAC because I know people that have been here, and it’s got a good reputation for being friendly and a good fun place to study.
Janis: Ok, well we’re outside the Halls of Residence here; there’s Sutton Hall and there’s the one that you lived in in your time here. Let’s go into this building in front of us, Emma, and have a look and see what’s inside.
Now, stepping through these doors, what can we see ahead of us? There’s a pool table, a bright, airy room, a dartboard, a puggy machine and some nice, comfy settees. There’s a smell in the air, and I think this must be the bar.
Emma: Yes, it is.
Janis: Let’s have a seat, Emma.
Nice and relaxed now, here in the comfy, cosy sofas within the bar. Tell me of some of your fond memories of this place in the last couple of years, Emma.
Emma: I have lots of fond memories from this bar. There’s lots of different events, like quizzes, and discos, and ceilidhs and everbody just comes together like a big family here and just has fun together. There’s also societies like the Agri-Society which I joined in first year and I’m now the joint secretary of that. They have lots of events, like balls, and all sorts of things that go on there. And there’s also lots of fund raising events that take place.
Janis: Tell me about some of the fund raising you’ve done.
Emma: Well they do sponsored events like the tractor pull and the Red Nose Day and they’re actually currently allocating money towards lecturers to get them gunged for Comic Relief.
Janis: Lots of fun.
Emma: Mhmm yes.
Janis: Future students might also wonder how learning at university is different from being at school. How have you found it?
Emma: Well there isn’t the same push there was when you lived at home of going to school but you have to be more independent and motivate yourself. But there’s lots of help on site for this and fellow students push you on; they’ll go and knock on your door and make sure you’re up and go to class, and you work together in the computers, finishing reports together and then after you’ve done that you can go out and celebrate your report being finished, that sort of thing.
Janis: Ah, sounds like a good team effort, eh?
Emma: Yes
Janis: I’m aware that you attended the Oxford Farming Conference as a delegate. How did that come about?
Emma: Well, I got an email sent to me, advertising it, then I applied through writing an essay about why I’d want to go then I was chosen, along with two other Edinburgh SAC students, and we drove down to Oxford.
Janis: And tell me what happened once you were there.
Emma: Well, we went to the pre-conference dinner and we met lots of important people. And we went to the conference itself for two days. And when we first arrived we were met by two champagne receptions.
Janis: Lovely.
Emma: Mhmm, with all the other delegates and all the speakers. Oh it was a great opportunity to meet lots of people and get a good insight on agriculture industry.
Janis: Sound great! And what about the ‘Grass Roots’ competition? A little bird told me that SAC did rather well!
Emma: Yes we did. George, our year head, entered us for this competition. We flew from Aberdeen and it was held at the Royal Agricultural College, Cirencester. It was a business challenge we competed in, along with seven other teams I think it was. And we had to produce a business sort of plan for a new venture and our ideas. And we all had different ideas because we were all taught in different ways, and then presented our ideas, and then a selection process brought us to the end.
Janis: Did you enjoy that, Emma?
Emma: I loved that, it was great fun. It was really good for team building our little small class, there was only six of us went down; we were good friends after that.
Janis: Good stuff! Fourth year now: what are you doing for your Honours Project?
Emma: I’m doing my dissertation on farm diversification. I’m looking into two diversification options; one equine livery, and one growing wheat grass. Wheat grass is just young shoot of wheat that’s cut and juiced and a health-food sort of thing. I chose to do this because I’m into the equine industry and the food industry so this covers both. I’m looking into both of them and then after that I’ll do an options appraisal and look at the data gathered to see which would be the most financially viable option.
Janis: Ok. Tell me about the wheat grass, how does it taste?
Emma; Oh, well, people differ with their opinions of that. It’s quite a bitter taste, but it’s got huge nutritional value.
Janis: Ok. Any plans for your dissertation recommendations being brought into your own family farm?
Emma: Well, possibly, it’s always an idea, dad’s thinking…well, he listens anyway.
Janis: Thank you, Emma, for sharing your experiences at SAC with us. Do you have any last thoughts or advice for anyone thinking of coming along to SAC next year?
Emma: Well, I just think it’s a great, friendly place to study, and with the current economic climate you’re better off getting some qualifications, so there’s no friendlier place to get them than here.
Janis: Wonderful. Thanks Emma. You’ve been listening to a podcast from SAC. Find out more information at www.sac.ac.uk.