NSA North Sheep 2011, the National Sheep Association northern region’s biennial one day event is guaranteed to offer that business and social buzz on Wednesday 8 June 2011 at West Nubbock Farm, Hexham, Northumberland, and kindly hosted by Lewis and Helen Forster.
The 17th technical event of its kind, NSA North Sheep 2011 will be building on its previous success with a crowd of more than 6,000 and 250 trade stands.
“NSA North Sheep will offer a comprehensive range of technical and business activities designed to inspire all visitors to take away ideas and messages that will enable them improve their unit’s efficiency and provide vision for its future,” says event organiser, Julie Sedgewick. “The event will also provide a great venue to catch up with other sheep farmers and industry influencers.
“Once again, we are offering a comprehensive programme of carefully scheduled seminars and discussion forums. Scab and the cross border implications of the disease becoming notifiable will be discussed by officials, vet and farmers; our big debate will aptly feature food versus the environment, while the lunchtime marketing panel will provide visitors with the opportunity to find out more about this season’s trade from a mix of representatives covering live, dead, halal and export. We will also be bringing exhibitors up to speed with potential opportunities for export activities at a breakfast seminar,” she says.
“We are looking forward to enthusiastic support for the prestigious NSA North Sheep Young Shepherd of the Year, a pentathlon of activities – from shearing to foot trimming, all of which are designed to test the skills of our sector’s youngsters. The award has an £800 cash prize at stake together with an opportunity for the winner to go forward to the national finals at NSA Sheep 2012, Malvern.
“Farmers will be able to pit their selection skills in the hands on lamb selection competition and again in stock judging, while they can sit back, put up their feet and watch our popular customised spectacle, Ready Steady Naked Cook, this year to feature Chris Armstrong, Hexham and Northern Marts and John Wharton, Penrith Farmers Mart against Haig Murray, Dunbia and Paul Barker, Woodheads.
“Tours around the host farm and its 1,200 ewe flock will be running throughout the day with a mid-way stop to sample NSA North Sheep real ale, a tipple from the local Allendale Brewery especially brewed for the event. Back at the farm, visitors will be able to observe a number of demonstrations including sheep shearing, spinning, weaving, stick dressing and dry stone walling, and we will also be staging for the first time lambing trimming demonstrations.”
Julie adds: “We are grateful for the high level of support from across the sector and would like to take the opportunity to thank those who have agreed to take up.”
The major sponsor is Novartis Animal Health; and mainlines: Hexham and Northern Marts sponsoring NSA Young Shepherd of the Year; Rumenco, the seminars; Shearwell, the lamb selection, Carrs Billington, stock judging; Youngs Chartered Surveyors, the farm tour and EBLEX.
