The National Sheep Association (NSA) and the Company of Merchants of the Staple of England (the Staple) are excited to today open applications for a new travel bursary giving enthusiastic and aspirational young sheep farmers the opportunity to widen their shepherding knowledge and experience.

The new NSA Samuel Wharry Memorial Award for the Next Generation comes in the form of two £2,750 travel bursaries to support two young people, aged 21 to 34, in study trips to explore the application of science in sheep production.

Samuel Wharry of Carnlough, County Antrim, a past NSA Chairman (pictured), was an advocate of applying science and technology on-farm – and NSA is grateful to the Staple for this new partnership to ensure a legacy for him and a boost for young sheep farmers.

Joanne Briggs, NSA Operations Director says, “Sam’s enthusiasm, curiosity and practical nature will live on through these travel bursaries. They are an incredible opportunity for two individuals involved in the UK sheep sector or ancillary industries to receive £2,750 each to design separate trips suited to their own situation. Having identified a subject they want to learn about, they can travel wherever they wish, pick up as much information as possible and then share their findings.

“Applications are online and involve young people answering a series of simple questions about the topic they want to study, why its relevant to them and the UK sheep sector, and where they want to go in the world. Support and mentoring will be offered to the two successful applicants, so all anyone needs at this stage is a good idea and plenty of enthusiasm.”

Stephen Fell of the Company of Merchants of the Staple of England Charitable Trust adds:  “We are very pleased to work together with NSA to offer these two bursaries, providing two young sheep enthusiasts the opportunity to achieve their ambitions to travel while also viewing exciting sheep enterprises to the benefit of their own career/business and the wider sheep sector. We hope it will offer young sheep farmers support and inspiration discover the important roles that science and technology now play in the improvement of the worldwide sheep flock.”

The addition of the NSA Samuel Wharry Memorial Award to the NSA Next Generation project of activity is the latest step to further NSA’s commitment to supporting young people working in the UK sheep sector. Other work includes the NSA Next Generation Ambassador programme and NSA Next Generation Shepherd competitions, both of which have highlighted and enhanced the  fine calibre of young shepherds in the UK.

Applications are open now and will close at midnight on Monday 22^nd April, with shortlisted candidates informed shortly afterwards and invited for an informal interview with an industry selection panel. Find all the details and an online application form, as well as further information on the NSA Next Generation programme, at www.nationalsheep.org.uk/next-generation/travel-bursary.