A number of farmers in the north and north-east have been named as judges for next year’s Royal Highland Show.
Show organisers, the Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland (RHASS), have released a full list of judges for the four-day event on June 18-21 2020.
“I am very much looking forward to my first Royal Highland Show as chairman, and our 2020 line-up of esteemed judges only adds to the excitement,” said RHASS chairman, Bill Gray.
“We are proud to present Scotland’s premier showcase of our finest animals every year, and the 180th Royal Highland Show will be a truly special celebration of our country’s food, farming and rural life.”
The prestigious overall beef interbreed and teams championships will be judged by well-known Limousin breeder Esmor Evan, who runs the Maerdy herd in Flintshire, Wales. Glenlivet breeder Michael Durno, of Auchorachan farm, will judge the beef breeder and junior beef interbreed championships, while the native breeds interbreed teams championship will be decided by Audrey Anderson from Arbroath.
Other cattle judges include north-east breeder Mike Massie from Mains of Elrick, Ellon, for the Limousin section and Crieff stockman Wilson Peters for the commercial cattle section.
The show will also feature a new section for Lincoln Reds to coincide with the breed’s 125th anniversary next year.
It will be judged by Harrison and Hetherington auctioneer and joint managing director, Scott Donaldson.
In the sheep section, the overall interbreed championshp will be judged by former RHASS chairman and pedigree Border Leicester, Suffolk and Texel breeder, Clark Stewart from Cupar, Fife.
The sheep pairs interbreed and young handlers judge is Blackface breeder William Dunlop of Dunbar in East Lothian.
Other sheep judges include Turriff breeder Robbie Wilson, who runs the Milnbank flock at North Dorlaithers, for the Texel section, Dufftown farmer Scott Robertson for the Jacobs, and Brian Ridland from Evie, Orkney, for the Shetlands.
Meanwhile, the overall young handler championship, which started for the first time at this year’s show, will be judged by a pair of renowned Limousin breeders and regular showgoers.
The task of finding the best young handler from a line-up of champions from all sections will lie with Sarah Jane Jessop and Dougie McBeath from Bannockburn, Stirling.
RHASS chief executive, Alan Laidlaw, said: “We have made a conscious decision to have a pair of judges for the young handlers.
“Not just because it’s multiple species but also because it’s the chance to engage with the younger people.”