NSA Young Shepherd of the Year Competition

Do you work with sheep? Are you motivated by working with sheep? Do you enjoy working with sheep? 

If so and you have left school and are the age of 26 or under  on September 28, 2014, why not enter the Young Shepherd of the Year competition at NSA Scotsheep 2014?

The competition, sponsored by Rumenco, is designed to test your practical skills and practical knowledge used in your every-day work with sheep, as well as your broader knowledge of the sheep industry throughout the UK and Europe, including the various sheep breeds.

“If you have competed before, we would love to see you again and first-time competitors are equally welcome,” says organiser, Dave Turner, former head of agriculture at Oatridge College.  “There are no restrictions on how many times you compete, other than age.”

The winner and runner-up will have the honour of representing Scotland in the national finals at the NSA National Sheep event at Malvern, Worcester, which presents the opportunity of qualifying for the World Young Shepherd of the Year competition which is being hosted by France.

The competition covers the following:

• Practical stock tasks: hoofcare, injection and drenching.
• Sheep shearing and wool handling (minimum of BWMB Blue Seal)
• Prime lamb selection.
• Daily preparation and safe use of an ATV with trailer, transporting stock.
• General question paper on sheep production and husbandries.
• Question paper on sheep breeds’ identification.

Qualifying youngsters, who could be working shepherds, farm workers, students or simply with an interest in sheep, are invited to enter and test themselves against other youngsters with the same interests and motivation. 

Depending on the level of support, regional qualifying competitions will be held in early May to select the top twelve contestants to compete in the Scottish final at NSA Scotsheep 2014 which takes place at Quixwood Farm, Duns, Berwickshire, on Wednesday, June 4, 2014.

The closing date for entries is Monday, March 31, and entry forms are available from Euan Emslie, NSA Scotsheep 2014 organiser, Tel: 01430 441870/07718 908523, E-mail: [email protected]