All roads lead to NSA Scot Sheep
24th May 2016
Sheep farmers from throughout Scotland and the North of England will be flocking to Scotland’s biennial national sheep event, NSA Scot Sheep 2016, next on Wednesday 1st June which is being hosted by the Campbell family of Glenrath Farms Ltd at Blythbank, West Linton, Peeblesshire.
The event, organised by NSA Sottish Region with Royal Bank of Scotland as major sponsor, is a “must attend” event for all sheep farmers, the agricultural trade and industry professionals to catch up with all the latest technical developments in sheep farming and see one of Scotland’s most renowned sheep farms.
The event will be open from 9am to 5pm and the official opening by Royal Bank of Scotland chief executive, Ross McEwan, will take place at 10am.
“We are delighted that Mr McEwan has found time in his busy diary to attend NSA Scot Sheep which demonstrates the bank’s commitment to Scottish agriculture,” said event chairman, Scott Somerville.
“The event will be a real showcase for the sheep industry in Scotland and Blythbank, with flocks of both commercial and pedigree sheep, is the perfect venue.”
Among those attending will be 442 school children from Peebles and Biggar high schools and seven local primary schools who will enjoy a two-hour guided tour of the event organised by the Royal Highland Education Trust (RHET) and looked after by a team of RHET volunteers.
There will be plenty for visitors to see and do throughout the day with 150 trade stands and 32 breed exhibits and the opportunity to tour the 1,300-acre farm by tractor and trailer to view the flock of more than 3,000 Scotch Mule and Blackface ewes and beef herd of 200 Limousin cross suckler cows.
Glenrath Farms is the largest free-range egg producer in the UK selling 1.5 million eggs a day to leading supermarkets. Blythbank is home to 320,000 free-range hens in 10 units.
A packed programme will include three seminars on burning topics affect the sheep industry, Scottish Young Shepherd of the Year final, sheep shearing competitions (including a Super Shear challenge and Scotland v England test match), sheepdog trials and butchery demonstration by Mike Forsyth of Forsyth Butchers, Peebles.
Other activities will include farmers market and craft stands, stockjudging, lamb/carcase grading, crook making, sheep dressing, wool spinning and fencing.
A major attraction at the end of the day will be a special auction sale of ewe hoggs at 4.00pm which has attracted an entry of 32 pairs of 16 breeds from leading flocks from across Scotland.
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Issued by Agricultural Communications Ltd. Tel: 01330 811616. Mob: 07772329159. E-mail: [email protected]
