Scotsheep to return to Aberdeenshire In 2006
21/02/05

Scotland's biennial national sheep event, Scotsheep, is returning to Aberdeenshire next year for the first time since 1993.

Scotsheep 2006 is to be hosted by John Gordon on his hill farm at Wellheads, Huntly, on Wednesday, June 7, 2006.

The event is organised by the Scottish Region of the National Sheep Association and is expected to attract thousands of sheep farmers from all over the UK and Ireland.

"Wellheads is a most impressive and well-managed sheep and beef farm and will make an excellent venue for Scotsheep," said NSA Scotland chairman, Hamish Waugh, Effgill, Westerkirk, Langholm, Dumfries-shire.

"Mr Gordon is a well-known figure in Scottish agriculture and we are delighted that he has kindly agreed to open his farm to the public by hosting Scotsheep."

A former national chairman of the Scottish Association of Young Farmers' Clubs and a director of the Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland, Mr Gordon said he was honoured to be invited to stage Scotsheep on his farm.

"It is a formidable undertaking as Scotsheep is now a major event for the sheep industry in Scotland," he said. "But I have always enjoyed attending Scotsheep on other farms and I am pleased to have the opportunity of putting something back into the industry by having the event at Wellheads."

Mr Gordon runs a flock of 820 Greyface and Blackface ewes and 230 beef suckler cows on his 1250 acre farm which rises to 1230ft. The 600 Greyface ewes are crossed with Suffolk and Texel rams with all progeny finished on the farm and the 220 Blackface ewes are crossed with Border Leicester rams to breed Greyface replacements.

Finished lambs are marketed through the Aberdeen and Northern Marts' lamb marketing scheme and calves - half spring born and half autumn born - are sold store at 12 - 13 months of age at Thainstone Centre.

Features of Scotsheep include trade stands, breed society demonstrations, educational exhibits, farm tour, seminars, practical demonstrations and competitions.

The first Scotsheep was held in 1979 and was last held in Aberdeenshire in 1993 on the farm of Harry Emslie at Kinnockie, Mintlaw. Last year's event was held on the farm of Willie Davidson, Poldean, Wamphray, near Moffat, Dumfries-shire.