The next generation of sheep farmers showed enthusiasm and skill last Tuesday 30th July 2024 as competitions rewarded their passion for the future of the UK sheep industry at NSA Sheep Event 2024.

The showcase event of NSA, that took place at the Three Counties Showground, Worcestershire, was the perfect occasion to celebrate the nation's future young sheep farmers and included the culmination of the NSA Samuel Wharry Memorial Award for the Next Generation.

Young sheep farmers Lucy-May Griffiths from Powys and Perry Parkinson from Stirling were named as the recipients of the award, that come in the form of a travel bursary of the value of £2750 each, back in 2022 and have subsequently used the awards to travel to New Zealand to undertake research into varying topics concerning sheep production.

Presentations of their findings were given at NSA Sheep Event to a busy audience gathered on the NSA stand eager to hear more about their studies that looked into sustainable grazing options and strategies to reduce anthelmintic resistance. Lucy-May and Perry were also both presented with a commemorative picture to mark the occasion (pictured below).

The award is presented every two years by NSA Next Generation and the Company of the Merchants of the Staple of England (The Staple) in memory of Samuel Wharry of County Antrim who was NSA Chairman when he died suddenly in May 2017. The 2023/2024 award is the second time bursaries have permitted the exploration of science in the sheep sector by young sheep producers.

The event also saw the finals of a new exciting competition promoting sustainable sheep production, kindly sponsored by Kepak. The contest rewarded three young farmers who demonstrated excellent, sustainable business planning skills for the future. Dafydd Owen from Abergele, Conwy took first place winning £400 in the NSA Next Generation 'Future Farming Competition' kindly sponsored by Kepak.

Dr Julie Finch of Kepak comments: "As a family-owned business, Sustainability is at Kepak's core and we are committed to encouraging and developing new talent. We've been delighted to collaborate with NSA to offer this new competition focussed on building a sustainable sheep enterprise. The standard of entries was very high and the three finalists made the final judging extremely difficult for us all!  Our congratulations go to our winner Dafydd Owen and to our runners up Richard and Ben - all three are extremely good ambassadors for sustainable sheep farming".  

Having qualified at NSA regional heats, 18 competitors were put through their paces in six shepherding challenges across the showground in the final of the NSA Next Generation Shepherd competition, sponsored by the Texel Sheep Society. Scoring the most points across the board and taking the prestigious title plus £1,000 prize money was 22-year-old Tom Garlick from Herefordshire. Tom comments: "I am really pleased to take the top prize. The competition included some very skilled fellow young farmers who I was honoured to compete alongside."

Close behind on the scoresheet was 24-year-old Michael Hogg from Tyne & Wear in second place and 25-year-old James White from Derbyshire in third place. Taking first prize for the highest placed under 21 competitor was 20-year-old Ben Edwards from Herefordshire.

NSA Chief Executive Phil Stocker comments: "From success in hard fought competitions, to knowledge exchange amongst NSA Next Generation Ambassadors, NSA Sheep Event once again provided the platform to celebrate that the future of the UK sheep industry is in safe hands. It is always so pleasing to see so many passionate young people get involved with NSA and join us at the event. Congratulations to all involved."