NSA Scotsheep 2024 is here!
Wednesday 5th June 2024
A Must-Attend Event for Sheep and Beef Enthusiasts
NSA Scotsheep is a premier biennial event organized by NSA Scotland, marking a significant occasion in the calendar for sheep producers across Scotland and the North of England. The 2024 event will be held on Wednesday, June 5th, at Aikengall Farm, Innerwick, Dunbar, East Lothian - a farm operated by the Hamilton family since 1998.
Hosted by the Scottish Region of the National Sheep Association (NSA), this year’s event promises to build on its successful format, featuring an extensive array of attractions and activities:
- Trade Stands: Over 160 commercial and educational trade stands, including 32 sheep breed societies and 11 individual breeders and companies, will showcase the latest innovations and products.
- Farm Tour: Visitors can explore the 5,250-acre farm, which includes tenanted, contract-farmed, and owned units, with 2,800 breeding ewes and a substantial herd of cows.
- Competitions and Demonstrations: Highlights include sheep dog trials, fencing and stock judging competitions, and the NSA Next Generation Shepherd of The Year competition. There will also be working demonstrations and educational seminars.
- Youth Engagement: Local schoolchildren will be invited to attend through the Royal Highland Educational Trust.
Aikengall Farm, the event’s main venue, spans 1,900 acres and supports a 1,400-strong flock of Blackface ewes and 900 spring-calving cows with Simmental genetics. The farm is dedicated to sustainable practices, participating in various stewardship schemes under the Scottish Rural Development Programme (SRDP) and Agri-Environment Climate Scheme (AECS). Additionally, Aikengall is home to the Aikengall Wind Farm, featuring 16 Vestas V90 wind turbines that power approximately 31,500 homes and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by around 54,200 tonnes annually.
McCaskie Agriculture is thrilled to be part of NSA Scotsheep 2024.
Neil Rettie, Managing Director of McCaskie Agriculture, expressed his enthusiasm for the event, stating,
"We are incredibly excited to be part of NSA Scotsheep 2024. The scale of the event and the sense of community it fosters among sheep producers is truly remarkable. It’s a fantastic opportunity for us to engage with the farming community, showcase our latest products, and celebrate the shared passion for sheep and beef farming."
Visit our Team at outdoor stand 148 to learn more about their innovative products and services.
The Hamilton family also manages several other units, including:
- Nunraw: Home to 1,400 Mules in a high-input, high-output system aimed at selling Texel-sired lambs before the Royal Highland Show.
- Stoneypath: Recently acquired for contract farming, it houses 156 red deer hinds and 40 Luing cows.
- Barney Mains: A 600-acre arable unit run by Charles Hamilton, producing spring barley, various vegetables, and fodder.
NSA Scotsheep has a rich history of bringing together the sheep farming community, with past events held at prestigious locations such as Over Finlarg Farm, Tealing, Dundee (2022), Kings Arms Farm, Ballantrae (2018), Glenrath Farms, Peeblesshire (2016), Quixwood Farm, Berwickshire (2014), and Dumfries House, Cumnock (2012).
