Scotland’s biennial Beef Event will be held against the picturesque backdrop of Earlston in the Scottish Borders next year.
The gathering, organised by the Scottish Beef Association (SBA), will be held at Fans Farm, on June 8.
Farm manager at Bowhill Estate, Sion Williams, who heads up the local organising committee, said: “Fans will be an excellent venue for Scotland’s national beef event in 2017.
“It is a fantastic set up to see in operation and a shining example of a commercially run beef cattle enterprise from start to finish.”
Mr Williams said the Stewart family’s farm will provide the perfect opportunity to see how an efficient suckler cow enterprise adds value to a mixed unit that also has interests in arable and potato production.
Whilst the event will focus on efficient beef production, specialists from the trade, research and advisory sectors will also be on hand.
Sustainability, said Mr Williams, will be key to discussions, but so too will be the economic climate as the industry adjusts to changes under the Common Agricultural Policy and Brexit.
“We are grateful to the Stewart family for accepting the association’s invitation to host this important event for the beef industry in Scotland, which is sure to attract a huge attendance of beef farmers and industry professionals from throughout Scotland and the north of England,” he said.
Fans Farm – a tenanted unit on the Mellerstain Estate – is run by Douglas Stewart and his wife, Kelda, father, Graham, and children, Holly and Archie.
Stocking comprises a commercial suckler herd of 400 Aberdeen-Angus cross cows, which are put to the Aberdeen-Angus bull, with all progeny finished on the farm.
The cows are all home-bred and the herd has been built up over the last quarter of a century.
Douglas Stewart said: “The beef enterprise is integral to our mixed farming enterprise and is profitable in its own right as well as utilising grass, home-grown barley and straw and providing farmyard manure for our arable operation.
“It is an honour to be asked to host this event and we look forward to working with the SBA and the organising committee to provide an interesting and worthwhile day for visitors.”
