NSA Highland Sheep 2025, held at Midfearn Farm, Ardgay, by kind permission of the Brooke family, proved a resounding success last week attracting visitors from across Scotland and beyond.

With the attraction of a beautiful Highland setting, a line up of engaging seminars and a farm tour showcasing quality livestock, record breaking crowds arrived to enjoy a packed programme celebrating the strength, innovation and community of Highland sheep farming.

The farm tour was a major highlight. Trailers transported visitors across several fields to experience the Brooke family’s livestock enterprises, including a selection of their 650 breeding ewes and lambs and 110 breeding cows and calves. The tour also featured the Watson Seeds grassland plots, where visitors heard from the Watsons team about multispecies swards, soil health, and the role of grassland in improving livestock performance and farm profitability. Guests praised both the informative commentary and the breathtaking Highland scenery.

A strong seminar programme delivered thought-provoking discussions on three key topics:

Inspections and agricultural policy
Social media and farm diversification
Lamb – what the market needs

All sessions were well attended and offered timely, practical insight into policy, consumer demand, and new approaches to business resilience.
Elsewhere, the event site hosted more than 120 trade stands, breed society displays, and machinery demonstrations. The butchery and cookery demonstrations were particularly popular, offering practical demonstrations, expert advice and culinary inspiration using Scotch lamb.

NSA Highland Sheep also maintained a strong educational focus, with local schools attending interactive farm tours and workshops. Pupils engaged in hands-on learning about farming, food production and environmental care, and feedback from teachers was overwhelmingly positive.

Reflecting on the event, hosts Tanya and Jock Brooke says: “It’s been a real privilege to host NSA Highland Sheep here at Midfearn. After a soggy start, the sun came out and so did the crowds. The atmosphere has been fantastic, and it’s been a pleasure to welcome so many people to our part of the Highlands.”

Peter Myles, NSA Scottish Region Chairman, adds: “We’re absolutely delighted with the turnout and enthusiasm at NSA Highland Sheep 2025. Huge thanks go to Tanya and Jock Brooke and their farm manager Neil Shaw for their generous hospitality and the hard work they put into hosting such a successful event. The farm, the programme and the people really showcased the innovation, resilience and community spirit that define Highland sheep farming.”

NSA Highland Sheep 2025 not only celebrated the progress of Scotland’s sheep farmers, but also reinforced the importance of education, environmental stewardship and collaboration in shaping the future of the industry. The event also provided opportunity for skill and effort to be rewarded in a series of exciting competitions.

Taking place the day before the busy event was the NSA Next Generation Shepherd competition that saw six skilled young sheep farmers demonstrate enthusiasm for the sector whilst taking part in a series of shepherding tasks such as shearing, sheepdog handling and lamb selection. Taking the top place in the contest was Keira Smith from Aberdeenshire. Kiera was also the top place under 21 year old in the competition. She now goes forward to represent Scotland at next year’s national finals of the competition.

The invitational sheep dog trial saw Iain MacKay from Culloden take the top prize whilst over in the shearing shed Johnny Mackenzie from Dingwall was first in the open shear competition, James Macleod from the Kyle of Lochalsh was first in the intermediate speed shear and Anna McTaggert from Sutherland was first in the clean shear – junior class.

Competition Results:

NSA Next Generation of the Year Competition
Sponsored by the Texel Sheep Society
1st Keira Smith, Aberdeenshire.
2nd Niamh Milton, Aberdeenshire.
3rd Ann McTaggert, Sutherland.
4th Lynn Ronaldson, Inverness-shire.
5th Rory Scott, Sutherland
6th Ruth Hinsley, Sutherland.
Highest placed under 21
Kiera Smith.
Sheep dog element of competition
Sponsored by the International Sheep Dog Society
1st Lynn Ronaldson.
2nd Keira Smith.
3rd Anna McTaggert.
4th Rory Scott.
5th Ruth Hinsley.
6th Niamh Milton.

Best Trade Stand Competition
Sheep Breed Society & Breeders
1st Essie, Suffolks, Aberdeenshire.
2nd Logie Durno Sheep, Aberdeenshire.
3rd Highland Mule Breeders Association & HISHA.
Indoor Trade Stands
1st Quality Meat Scotland.
2nd Highland Wool CIC, Ardgay, Ross-shire.
3rd Struie Hill Preserves, Ardgay, Ross-shire.
Outdoor Trade Stands
1st MacGregor Industrial Supplies Ltd, Inverness.
2nd` Te Pari Products (UK) Ltd, Perthshire.
3rd Migdale Country Store, Sutherland.

Invitational Sheep Dog Trial Competition
Sponsored by Migdale Country Store
1st Iain Mackay, Culloden.
2nd Ian Sutherland, Strathnaver.
3rd Vicky Shearer, Caithness.
4th Ian Wilkie, Kintore.
5th Freddy Fullford, Fort William.

Sheep Shearing
Sponsored by Blackface Sheep Breeders' Association, Chanelle Animal Health, Foundry Vets, Heiniger, Highland Agricultural Contractors, Highland Leisure Sport, North Country Cheviot Sheep Society, The Sheep Game & The Logo Farm.
Speed Shear Open
1st Johnny Mackenzie, Dingwall – 31.31 Seconds.
2nd Alice Watson, New Zealand.
Speed Shear Intermediate
1st James Macleod, Kyle of Lochalsh.
2nd Peter Hogarth, Tain.
Speed Shear Senior
1st Alice Watson, New Zealand.
2nd Freddy Fulford, Fort William.
Clean Shear Junior
1st Anna McTaggert, Sutherland.
2nd Rory Scott, Sutherland.

Show & Sale of Pairs of Ewe Hoggs

In the show of pairs of ewe hoggs, a pair of Texel crosses from Ballindalloch Home Farm, shown by David & Susan Johnston, took the overall championship and was sponsored by Galbraith.
The sale conducted by mainline sponsors of the event, Dingwall & Highland Marts saw the overall champion pair of Texel crosses from Ballindalloch Home Farm make £320 pph selling to the judge Ben Reive, Ardross, Ross-shire. Matching this price was a pair of Beltex hoggs at £320 pph from J Farquharson, (Brockies Beltex), Kiltarlity, Inverness selling to Grant Ireland, Glenisla Beltex, Huntly.

Results and prices
Class 1 – Mules
1st Ballindalloch Home Farm, Banffshire - Highland mules, £220pph.
2nd WA & HV Stewart, Muir of Ord – Cheviot Mules, £260 pph.
3rd Ballindalloch Home Farm, Banffshire – Cheviot Mules, £200 pph.
Class 2- North Country Cheviot (Hill)
1st Gavin Ross, Migdale, Sutherland, £250 pph.
2nd Liam Matheson, Migdale, Sutherland, £250 pph.
3rd Farquhar Renwick, Inverbroom, Ross-shire, not sold.
Class 6 – Any Other Continental Breed
1st Euan Campbell (Balvaird Rouge), Connon-Bridge, Ross-shire, £300 pph.
2nd J Farquharson, (Brockies Beltex), Kiltarlity, Inverness, £200pph
3rd J Farquharson, (brockies Beltex), Kiltarlity, Inverness, £320 pph.
Class 7 - Any Cross Bred
1st and Overall Champion Ballindalloch Home Farm, Banffshire – Texel Cross, £320 pph.