North-east farmers’ co-operative ANM Group is set to celebrate its 25th anniversary at the Thainstone Centre in Inverurie early next month.
The group’s livestock division – Aberdeen and Northern Marts – will sell around 1,500 cattle at its annual anniversary show and sale.
The January sale marks 25 years at Thainstone, which opened on January 3, 1990.
Nowadays more than 100,000 cattle and 300,000 sheep are sold through the centre’s rings every year, and the group has an annual turnover of around £90million.
ANM store and breeding cattle manager John Angus said: “What makes this show and sale special isn’t just the sentimental aspect but also the large number of premium stock that are expected. The first couple of weeks in January are always a busy time at the mart and this event will be no exception.
The show and sale, which is sponsored by Thomson of Sauchen, takes place on Friday January 9, 2015.
The show, which kicks off at 8.30am, will be judged by David Brown of Burnside of Dipple, Fochabers, with the sale following at 10am.
Producers can enter classes of single cattle, pens of two and pens of four.
Around £1,000 is up for grabs in prize money and special commemorative plates will be presented to the vendor and buyer of the champion beast.
The sale will also feature the charity auction of a prime animal, donated by ANM Group chairman John McIntosh, which will then be slaughtered and butchered free of charge, courtesy of Ian and Robbie Galloway of Scotbeef Inverurie.
Funds raised from the beast’s sale will go towards ANM Group’s chosen charity of the year – CLAN Cancer Support.
Both ANM staff and members have been fundraising for the charity throughout 2014, with the efforts set to culminate with a special celebratory charity dinner on Saturday January 10, 2015.