THE show season for 2018 may not be over yet, but the National Sheep Association (NSA) is already turning its thoughts to 2019 with several NSA regions confirming dates and locations for their summer events.

Next year will see NSA hold five summer events stretching from Devon to the Highlands of Scotland providing sheep producers across the UK with an ideal opportunity to hear from industry experts, meet with exhibitors to discuss the latest innovations and catch up with sheep farming friends on an enjoyable day out.

The summer will start with NSA Welsh Sheep at Glynliffon Agricultural College, Caernarfon, on Wednesday, May 21. This will be followed by NSA North Sheep on Wednesday, June 5, hosted by longstanding NSA members, brothers Richard and Chris Frankland, of Frankland Farms, Rathmell, Settle, North Yorkshire.

NSA Highland Sheep will take place on Wednesday, June 12, at Sydmister Farm, near Thurso, Caithness, by permission of the Sutherland family, followed by NSA Sheep South West on Tuesday, June 18, at Burrington, North Devon, and NSA Sheep Northern Ireland on Monday, July 1, at Ballymena Livestock Mart, County Antrim.

NSA Sheep South West is of particular interest this time, as it will be hosted by NSA chairman Bryan Griffiths. He and wife Liz will open their farm gates to accommodate the event and offer farm tours to showcase their 900-head flock of commercial Mules and Suffolk Mules run over more than 300 acres.

NSA chief executive Phil Stocker said: “We are in a fortunate position to already be looking ahead to our 2019 shows, while still having two major events to happen this year – NSA Sheep 2018 and NSA South Sheep. We are very excited about them all and will continue to develop them all to ensure the best mix of technical information and entertaining features.

“All at NSA are thrilled that Bryan and Liz have offered to welcome visitors to their family farm in Devon next year for NSA Sheep South West. As NSA chairman, Bryan already juggles his commitment to the association with his busy farming life, so to act as host for such a major event shows real dedication and provides a fantastic opportunity for farmers within South West Region, and indeed further afield, to take part in a valuable day that an event like this can provide.”