Opportunity for the younger generation to demonstrate their skills at NSA Highland Sheep
19th May 2017
Youngsters with an interest in sheep will have the opportunity of demonstrating their skills in the NSA Highland sheep NSA Next Generation Shepherd and junior Shepherd of the Year competition’s at this year’s NSA Highland Sheep event to be held at Kinnahaird Farm, Contin, Strathpeffer, Ross-shire, on Wednesday, May 31.
The main competition is open to members of the younger generation between the ages of 17 and 26.
Qualifying youngsters, who could be working shepherds, farm workers, students or simply with in interest in sheep, will compete for the NSA Highland sheep trophy and a cash prize of £300 for the winner and £200 for the runner-up. The winner will have the opportunity of representing Scotland in the combined national and european finals at NSA Sheep 2018 at Malvern, Worcester, on July 18, with a top prize of £1000.
“Youngsters who have competed before and first-time competitors are equally welcome,” says organiser, Wallace Boyd. “There are no restrictions on how many times you can compete, other than age.”
NSA Scottish region event organiser and secretariat, Euan Emslie, said: “The Shepherd of the Year competitions offer a real incentive to encourage the next generation of sheep farmers and shepherds to equip themselves with the range of skills required for a career in the industry.”
The competition is designed to test participants’ practical skills and practical knowledge used in every-day work with sheep, as well as their broader knowledge of the sheep industry throughout the UK and Europe, including the various breeds of sheep. There will also be two general question papers on sheep production and husbandry and the identification of sheep breeds.
All competitors will be expected to carry out a number of practical tasks, including foot care techniques, handling, vaccination, dosing, sheep shearing, wool handling, prime lamb selection and demonstrate the safe use of an ATV with trailer transporting stock.
The junior competition is for youngsters of 16 years of age and under on the day of the competition and will have the same tasks as the main competition, but removing the ATV and shearing elements. Prize money on offer for this competition is - 1st - £25, 2nd - £15 and 3rd £10 plus prize cards.
The competitions will be one of the highlights of NSA Highland Sheep 2017, the Scottish Highland’s biennial national sheep event, which this year will be hosted by farmers, Dorothy Clark and Amy Grant of J P Clark Ltd.
Further information and entry forms for the Next Generation Shepherd of the Year competitions can be downloaded from the event website: www.nsascotland.org or can be obtained from Euan Emslie, Organiser, NSA Highlandsheep 2017, 3 Briar Close, Newport, Brough, East Yorkshire, HU15 2QY. Tel: 01430 441870, Mob: 07718 908523, E-mail: euan@nsascotland.org
