NSA Highlandsheep 2025 - What to See and Do
Bolus Demonstration
Agrimin representatives will discuss the market leading erosion technology of the Agrimin range of boluses and why trace elements are vitally important to flock and herd health. As well as hearing how these fully researched and trialled products can benefit your stock, you will also witness, through practical demonstrations, how simple and easy it is to bolus a ewe. The demonstrations will be presented periodically throughout the day on the Agrimin stand No 2 in the farmyard.
Crook Making Demonstration
Charlie Macneil from Achany, Lairg will be demonstrating his skills of making shepherds crooks periodically throughout the day within the School Children Marquee within Paddock 10.
Farm Tour
The farm tour runs from 9.00am to 3.00pm at Midfearn and gives visitors a great opportunity to experience the quality of livestock produced on the farm, the breathtaking views of the Dornoch firth and the surrounding hills and the importance of grassland management on the farm.
The farm tour will begin with the first trailers leaving field 4 at the bottom of the outdoor trade stand field at 9.00am and will visit several fields where you will see a proportion of the 650 head of breeding ewes and lambs, and 110 breeding cows and calves at Midfearn, as well as Watson Seeds grassland plots.
Grassland and soil health have always been at the forefront of what drives livestock performance, profitability and efficiency at Midfearn. The plots, detailed below, were chosen for the event due to the increased interest in multispecies swards, which are also very popular in the north of Scotland. They will be showcased during the farm tour, with the Watsons team available to walk through the grass plots, explain each mixture, and answer any questions that may arise.
Mingary + red clover (a long term one cut and graze mixture, and Midfearn's go to mix); Hermitage (a multispecies grazing ley); Fyvie + red clover (a mixture designed for lighter soils, suitable for cutting and grazing) and Castle Herbal Ley (a diverse multispecies mix).
Farm To Fork - Lamb Butchery Demonstration
“Value added carcase- Shows the versatility of the lamb and what can be produced from its carcase” – This butchery demonstration/workshop, using Midfearn Farm Blackface lamb hogget, will be presented by Jock Gibson Macbeth’s Butchers in Forres and Gordon Newlands, Brands Development Manager at QMS within the School Children Marquee in Paddock 10 between 3,00pm and 3.45pm.
Farm to Fork - Lamb Cookery Demonstration
Simon Rodgers, Chef Lecturer at North Highland College, Dornoch will be presenting a cookery demonstration, using Midfearn Farm Blackface lamb hogget, producing a couple of different recipes within the School Children Marquee in Paddock 10 between 2.15pm and 3.00pm.
Gizzen Briggs School Band Performance
Gizzen Briggs are a Scottish Tradition Music Group based in Tain Royal Academy and periodically from 12 Noon to 3.00pm, Gizzen Briggs school band will be performing and playing traditional Scottish music next to the VIP/Sponsors marquee in paddock 10.
Midfearn Hydro Scheme
Hydropower and renewable energy have been a part of the Brooke family’s Midfearn Estate for more than a century, with the first hydro scheme being introduced in 1921 and as a result one of the first areas in the Highlands to have electricity.
The two hydro installations on the Midfearn Estate are powered by Gilkes turbines. The first being a Turgo type turbine, originally designed by Gilkes in 1919. The Westerfearn Burn scheme was commissioned in 2008 with a power output of 1000kW. A second installation at Easterfearn Burn was completed in 2014 adding a further 500kW of generation. Combined, this produces enough renewable energy to power 1500 average UK homes.
Visitors to the event have the opportunity of visiting the powerhouse turbine completed in 2014 at building 7, where representatives of Gilkes Hydro will be on hand throughout the day to answer any questions and provide an explanation on the hydropower installation.
Gilkes Hydro have supplied more than 6,900 hydro turbines to over 80 countries, many of which are installed in the Scottish Highlands. With 3 service centres in Scotland, and a skilled team of engineers, Gilkes now support these installations with preventative maintenance contracts and equipment lifetime support.
NSA Next Generation Shepherd of the Year Competition
The competition is designed to test Shepherd competitors’ practical skills and practical knowledge used in their every-day work with sheep, as well as their broader knowledge of the sheep industry throughout the UK and Europe, including the various sheep breeds. (The competition is being held on Tuesday 10th June 2025 and is not open to visitors).
The presentation of prizes will take place a 3.30pm on Wednesday 11th June in the seminar building. The winner will have the honour of representing Scotland in the national finals at the NSA Sheep Event 2026 at Malvern on 28th July 2026.
Opening Ceremony & Award Presentations
The event will be officially opened at 10.00am in the seminar building 5. Introduction by Euan Campbell, NSA Highlandsheep 2025 Organising Committee Chairman, Welcome
to Midfearn Farm by Jock Brooke, Address by Peter Myles, NSA Scotland Chairman, Official Opening by Joanie Whiteford, The Lord-Lieutenant of Ross and Cromarty and Presentation of NSA Scotland Silver Salver, followed by presentation of best trade stand competition awards.
Prime Lamb Selection
(Name of demonstrator to be confirmed) will demonstrate how to pick prime lambs for the marketplace within building 3. Three demonstrations will take place during the day at 11.00am, 1.00pm and 2.30pm.
Seminars
The seminar programme always provides a line-up of interesting speakers and relevant topics. Seminars will see farmers and industry spokesmen put forward their opinions and experiences, with plenty of time in each session for the audience to engage in discussion and debate. The seminars take place within building 5. See separate timetable.
Sheep Dog Trial Invitational Competition & SAYFC National Sheepdog Final.
Thirty-five top handlers, from seven regions in the North of Scotland (Aberdeenshire, Caithness, Inverness-shire, Lochaber, Ross-shire, Skye, & Sutherland) will be competing in an invitation sheepdog trial which will be one of the highlights of the event. The competitors will compete individually for the trail trophy for the winner and prize money and will be judged by Ewen Mackinnon, Coulags, Strathcarron.
Six finalists will compete in the Final of SAYFC National Sheepdog Competition. The competitors were kindly permitted to run their dogs at the Scottish Inter District Nursery Association Trials and those shortlisted will compete at the National final at the event, between 12 Noon and 1.00pm, and will be judged by Jim Ogston, ISDS Vice Chairman.
Viewing of the sheep dog trials can be done from a dedicated viewing area in field no 7. See event plan.
Sheep Dressing Demonstration
John "Beachy" Barclay with his sons Cameron and Finlay from Maybole in Ayrshire will demonstrate how to prepare sheep for a show or sale, The demonstrations will take place on stand number 20 within building 1 at 11am and 2pm.
Speed Shear Competition
The competition which will see shearers take to the boards to shear a single sheep that has already been crutched in the fastest time they can, while also maintaining the standards expected of professional shearers and will take place within building 4. The heats start at 2.00pm followed by semi-final, finals and award ceremony starting approximately at 4.30pm.
Show & Sale Pair of Ewe Hoggs
Top-quality pairs of ewe hoggs from well-known breeders across the country will be forward for the multi-breed show judged by Ben Riach from Dingwall at 9.00am with the
sale starting at 4.00pm in the Seminar Building 5 and conducted by Dingwall & Highland Marts.
Seven classes will be on offer for Mules, North Country Cheviot (Hill), North Country Cheviot (Park), Scottish Blackface, any other Native breed, any other Continental breed and any Cross-bred. with both MV accredited and non-accredited sheep eligible for show and sale.
If sheep cannot be uplifted by purchasers on the day, it is hoped that arrangements can be made for buyers to collect their purchases from the premises of the vendor within 14 days.
Stockjudging
SAYFC will be running an Open and YFC stockjudging competition at the event between 9.00am and 3.00pm, with visitors having to judge sheep from Midfearn . £500 of prize money is on offer and is kindly sponsored by Migdale Transport. The competition takes place in the sheep flanks and entry on the day is £5.
Trade Stands - Commercial & Educational
Over eighty commercial companies and educational organisations will be promoting their products and services at the event, showcasing all the latest developments in technology, husbandry, and marketing to help farmers maximise the potential of their sheep enterprises.
Trade Stands - Individual Sheep Breeders
Four individual sheep breeders and companies will be promoting their sheep and genetics at the event.
Trade Stands – Farmers’ Market & Craft Fair
Sixteen local companies and individuals will be exhibiting their produce and arts and crafts within the Farmers’ Market & Craft Marquee within the outdoor trade stand field.
Trade Stands - Sheep Breed Societies
Fifteen sheep breed societies will be promoting their breed of sheep and genetics at the event.
Workshops
Thirteen twenty-five-minute workshops will take place from 9.30am to 3.55pm within a dedicated workshop area in building 2 at the event with a range of topics and speakers providing an even better opportunity to gain practical, hands-on advice and tips. Workshops are slightly smaller and more informal than the seminars, with the intention of people getting involved, asking questions, and making the most of the experts on hand. See separately timetable.
Wool Weavers, Spinners, Felters and Dyers Demonstrations
Members of the Highland Guild of Weavers Spinners and Dyers will be demonstrations the skills of wool weaving, spinning, felting and dyeing periodically throughout the day in the Farmers’ Market & Craft Fair marquee within the outdoor trade stand field.
