An award-winning shepherdess from Sutherland is set to open the NSA Highland Sheep event later this year.
The event, which takes place on Wednesday May 31, will be opened by Joyce Campbell.
Ms Campbell, who was crowned Scotland’s Sheep Farmer of the Year in 2015, runs a flock of 780 Lairg-type North Country Cheviot ewes across 5,600 acres at Armadale.
She will officially open the Highland Sheep 2017, which takes place a Kinnahaird Farm, Contin, Strathpeffer, Ross-shire.
Kinnahaird is run by Dortohy Clark and her daughter Amy Grant. It is home to a flock of 400 North Country Cheviot cross Texel and Texel cross ewes.
The Scottish branch of the National Sheep Association (NSA), which organises the biennial Highland Sheep event, said this year’s event was taking place in one of the most important sheep areas of Scotland.
Brenda Macintyre, who chairs the local organising committee for the event, said: “We are delighted that Joyce has accepted our invitation to perform the official opening ceremony at NSA Highland Sheep.
“Joyce has emerged as an inspiring champion of the Scottish sheep industry since becoming the first winner of the Sheep Farmer of the Year title in 2015 and her strong advocacy of the industry is an example to us all.”
Sheep farmers from all over the country are expected to make their way to Strathpeffer in May for the event.
It will include a farm tour, demonstrations on topics such as CT scanning and shearing, as well as competitions for sheep dog trials and stockjudging.
The event will also play host to the Scottish finals of the NSA Next Generation Shepherd of the Year competition and the Junior Shepherd of the Year contest, excluding quad bike handling and sheep shearing tasks, which is for under 16s.
The day will end with a show and sale of ewe hoggs which will be judged by Robert Paterson, Jun, Upper Auchenlay, Dunblane.
