Sheep farmers from all over Scotland – and particularly the Highlands and islands – will be hot-footing it to Ross-shire, just north of Inverness, next Wednesday (May 31), for the National Sheep Association in Scotland’s one-day NSA Highland Sheep 2017 event.
This popular biennial event is being hosted by sheep farmers Dorothy Clark and her daughter Amy Grant on their farm of Kinnahaird, Contin, Strathpeffer.
The farm, which is conveniently situated on the A835 just north-west of Dingwall, is home to a flock of 400 North Country Cheviot cross Texel and Texel cross ewes and a herd of 160 beef suckler cows.
The major sponsor for the event is Turriff-headquartered animal feed firm Harbro.
Event chairman, Brenda Macintyre of Findon Mains, Culbokie, Dingwall, said the aim of the event was to provide sheep farmers and others with an interest in the sheep industry with a varied, interesting and enjoyable day out following the rigours of lambing.
She said: “The sheep industry will be attending in force, sharing the latest information and technology available through the many educational, advisory and commercial companies who are participating, along with a variety of trade stands and breed exhibits.”
The event will run from 9am to 5pm and will be officially opened at 10am by Scotland’s 2015 Sheep Farmer of the Year, Joyce Campbell, who runs 780 Lairg-type North Country Cheviot ewes on her 5,600 acre Sutherland hill farm.
Features of the action-packed day will include 90 trade stands and 24 sheep breed exhibits, a farm tour by tractor and trailer, demonstrations, stockjudging, invitation sheep dog trial, Shepherd of the Year competition and show and sale of ewe hoggs which has attracted an entry of 21 pairs.
The comprehensive seminar programme will focus on marketing, health and nutrition and hill farmer, Jennifer Craig, will discuss the complementary role of sheep on the hills, while Scottish Sheep Sector Review chairman, John Scott, will give an update on the implementation of the review’s recommendations.
The Conservative, Labour, Liberal Democrat and SNP parliamentary candidates in the general election for Ross, Skye and Lochaber will be taking part in a hustings when they will be grilled about what they would do, if elected, for the sheep industry.
Admission is £12 (£6 for NSA members and students and under 16 free) and the organising committee has made a special effort to ensure that caterers are offering locally produced food as far as possible.
Further information available at www.NSAScotland.org
