It is now less than one month until the popular NSA Sheep South West event returns providing a packed day of networking and entertainment for sheep producers from across South West England and beyond.

Taking place on Wednesday 25th June, the 2025 event is kindly hosted by the Stanbury family at their home, Weston Farm, East Knowstone, Devon. It will once again provide sheep farming visitors with an informative and enjoyable day out with a packed event schedule of competitions, demonstrations, workshops and more.

A popular feature of the event will no doubt be the seminar area where topical issues from sheep genetics to the future of wool production will be discussed with industry experts and panels of local South West farmers.

Kicking off the debates, attendees will be able to hear from vet Dr Monika Ptaszynska-Sutton on the importance of health diagnostics and monitoring in sheep farming and how these practices can enhance profitability.

And with not just the health of the sheep flock having an impact on farm – but the health of soils playing a major part in future productivity also, this will be the next seminar to be discussed at the event. Scientists from Rothamstead research and the Farm and Wildlife Advisory Group (FWAG) will look at the importance of healthy soils.

Next into the seminar tent will be Innovis speaking about why it is crucial to work with ram breeders from similar environments to one’s own before a panel of farmers and end users will discuss the pro’s and con’s of  Wool-Shedding versus Non Wool-Shedding Sheep. 

Later on in the afternoon NSA will welcome the UK Agri Tech Centre who will be ready to give advice on the funding they can offer farmers seeking to make practical or technical innovations on farm.

The seminar area will conclude with ‘Ask the farmer’ – A chance to discuss the Stanbury family farm showcased at the event.        

The farm tour at NSA Sheep South West will undoubtedly be a highlight for any visitor giving them an insight into the family’s beef and sheep farm that has grown to 500 acres, plus additional rented and common grazing.

The enterprise is home to more than 1000 ewes plus ewe lambs with breeds including Romney and North Country and Suffolk Mules. The farm has also ventured into wool shedding breeds with Easycare and Exlana ewes. All sheep are finished on grass and herbal leys with the majority of sheep (and cattle) overwintered outside with rotational grazing a key strategy to their success. 

Rich Stanbury is looking forward to chatting with visitors and is happy to share the good, the bad and the ugly from the changes they have made to futureproof their farming system in the final seminar of the day.

Away from the seminars and the farm tour, visitors will also be able to enjoy browsing trade stands or even take part in one of the day’s competitions that will include the south west heat of the NSA Next Generation Shepherd competition, a photography competition with the theme of ‘All things Sheep’, a lamb selection contest, a fleece competition and the fun ‘gift of the gavel’ contest, run by auctioneers Kivells.

NSA members as well as children and YFC members receive free entry to NSA Sheep South West. Additional tickets are available for £15 each.
Details about NSA membership and the many benefits it can deliver, including free event entry, can be found at www.nationalsheep.org.uk/membership.

For all event enquiries please contact NSA Sheep South West Event Organiser Sue Martyn on suem@nationalsheep.org.uk or visit www.sheepsouthwest.org.uk for more information.