Young farmers and crofters with a keen interest in sheep farming are invited to enter a competition to find Scotland’s best young shepherd.
The National Sheep Association (NSA) is calling for entries to the Scotland’s Young Shepherd of the Year competition, which will take place at Highland Sheep 2015 in June.
The competition is open to working shepherds, farm workers, students and other youngsters with an interest in sheep who have left school and are under the age of 26 on June 29.
Applicants must have the minimum British Wool Marketing Board blue seal certification for sheep shearing and wool handling.
Applicants will be asked to carried out a series of tasks at the Highland Sheep event, which takes place at Fearn Farm, Tain, Ross-shire, on Tuesday, June 9.
The tasks are: prime lamb selection; preparation and safe use of an ATV with trailer to transport stock; question papers on sheep breeds and sheep production; sheep shearing and wool handling; and numerous practical tasks including vaccinating and dosing, and foot care techniques.
“If you have competed before, we would love to see you again and first-time competitors are equally welcome. There are no restrictions on how many times you can compete, other than age,” said competition organiser Dave Turner, former head of agriculture at SRUC Oatridge.
The winner of the competition will receive the NSA Highland Sheep Rose Bowl and a cash prize of £300, while £200 will be presented to the runner-up and £100 to the shepherd in third place. The highest placed competitor under the age of 21 will also receive a prize of £100.
The competition is free to enter and applications must be received by May 1. For an application form contact Euan Emslie on euan@appliedremedies.co.uk or by phoning either 01430 441870 or 07718 908523.