ONE of the biggest farming events of the year is being staged next week near West Linton.

Sheep farmers from throughout Scotland and the North of England will be flocking to Scotland’s biennial national sheep event, NSA Scotsheep 2016, next Wednesday which is being hosted by the Campbell family of Glenrath Farms Ltd at Blythbank.

The event, organised by National Sheep Association Scotland with Royal Bank of Scotland as major sponsor, is a “must attend” event for all sheep farmers, the agricultural trade and industry professionals to catch up with all the latest technical developments in sheep farming and see one of Scotland’s most renowned sheep farms.

Royal Bank of Scotland chief executive, Ross McEwan, will officially open the event at 10am.

“We are delighted that Mr McEwan has found time in his busy diary to attend NSA Scotsheep which demonstrates the bank’s commitment to Scottish agriculture,” said event chairman, Scott Somerville.

“The event will be a real showcase for the sheep industry in Scotland and Blythbank, with flocks of both commercial and pedigree sheep, is the perfect venue.”

Among those attending will be 442 school children from Peebles and Biggar high schools and seven local primary schools who will enjoy a two-hour guided tour of the event organised by the Royal Highland Education Trust (RHET) and looked after by a team of RHET volunteers.

There will be plenty for visitors to see and do throughout the day with 150 trade stands and 32 breed exhibits as well as the opportunity to tour the 1300-acre farm by tractor and trailer to view the flock of more than 3000 Scotch Mule and Blackface ewes and beef herd of 200 Limousin cross suckler cows.

John Campbell from Blythbank told the Peeblesshire News: "We are delighted to be hosting such a prestigious event at Blythbank.

"This is one of the biggest days in the agricultural calendar."

Glenrath Farms is the largest free-range egg producer in the UK selling 1.5 million eggs a day to leading supermarkets.

Blythbank is home to 320,000 free-range hens in 10 units.

A packed programme will include three seminars on burning topics affecting the sheep industry, the Scottish Young Shepherd of the Year final, sheep shearing competitions including a Super Shear challenge and Scotland v England test match, sheepdog trials and butchery demonstration by Mike Forsyth of Forsyth Butchers in Peebles.

Other activities will include farmers market and craft stands, stockjudging, lamb/carcase grading, crook making, sheep dressing, wool spinning and fencing.

A major attraction at the end of the day will be a special auction sale of ewe hoggs at 4pm which has attracted an entry of 32 pairs of 16 breeds from leading flocks from across Scotland.

NSA Scotsheep 2016 will be open from 9am to 5pm next Wednesday.