22/05/06
The National Sheep Association is reflecting its firm commitment
towards encouraging all students and youngsters involved in practical
sheep management activities by staging the first ever NSA Young
Shepherd of the Year Award at NSA Sheep 2006, the industry’s
biennial event staged by the National Sheep Association at the
Three Counties Show Ground, Malvern on Wednesday 2 August.
The Heptavac P Plus sponsored award with £3,000 at stake,
is open to college students, YFC members and young people up to
26 years old, and is designed to test their shepherding skills
in a pentathlon of activities. Each entrant will be required to
sort finished lambs for slaughter, demonstrate handling, vaccinating
and dosing techniques, erect an electric fence, and put an ATV
through its paces. They will also be questioned on flock management
and health issues.
“Helping to equip tomorrow’s sheep keepers with the
skills they need and giving recognition once those skills have
become honed is a must for any forward thinking industry association
such as NSA,” says the association’s chief executive,
Peter Morris. "NSA is pleased to support the pentathlon event
since we are acutely aware that the biggest long term challenge
facing the sheep industry is to encourage young people to be involved.
“It is important to emphasise that anyone choosing to enter
the shepherding profession should do so knowing that the many skills
they possess can lead to them earning a decent living and enjoying
a good quality of life,” he says. “Whilst times are
never easy for sheep keepers those with the best range of skills
and an eye for business are most likely to succeed. Competitions
such as this are a good incentive to encourage the next generation
of shepherds to try and better themselves and look forward to working
in a profitable and sustainable industry.”
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