The National Sheep Association is holding NSA Sheep 2020 virtually this year.

A summer of celebration was planned for the National Sheep Association (NSA) in 2020 to celebrate 40 years at its home on the Three Counties Showground, near Malvern, Worcestershire, however due to the ongoing Covid-19 outbreak, the event has been put on ice until larger gatherings are once again permitted.

Nevertheless, in recognition of the desire of NSAs members and supporters to partake in ongoing development, NSA has decided to proceed with aspects of the NSA Sheep event that people know and enjoy, with a series of two day virtual events starting this August.

Chief executive Phil Stocker said: Of course, all at NSA were incredibly disappointed to cancel our flagship event this summer. But as work progresses on bringing a new, exciting, virtual event to our members our team at head office as well as the extended NSA organisation is excited to see how our members and others will engage with our series of virtual events.

The Virtual celebration of sheep farming will give sheep farmers the opportunity to log in to a new NSA website for the series of events. They are invited to take part in online seminars and workshops, browse interactive videos from trade and breed society stands, enter competitions and more.

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Each event is themed to allow a focus to be made that is relevant to the season and the tasks that sheep farmers might be undertaking or policy that could be affecting them at that time.

The series will start with the first event titled Breeding the best on Wednesday, August 12 and Thursday, August 13, a theme that will allow NSA affiliated breed societies the chance to share information at a time when many farmers will be considering their plans for the upcoming breeding season.

Advice and guidance will also be delivered by a packed webinar timetable. Webinars will be open to everyone to join, with free registration for each webinar available in advance and on the two days of the events.

The opportunity to view new products and demonstrations is an event highlight and this will still be available with trade stand exhibitors delivering information through their own dedicated area of the website.

Those with a competitive nature will be able to get involved in a series of competitions that can be entered before and during the event that will give visitors to the site a chance to win an array of excellent prizes.

Competitions will include a fleece competition managed by long standing NSA supporters, British Wool, a photography competition, carcase competition, sponsored by meat processors Mutchmeats, and breed society stand contests.

To join in visit nsavirtualevent.org.uk.

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NSA Sheep 2020 to be a virtual sheep show - South West Farmer