NSA prize giveaway eases shepherding task for lucky winners across the UK

Two further sheep farmers are benefitting from new shepherding equipment this spring, thanks to this year’s National Sheep Association (NSA) prize giveaway.

Becoming the third and fourth lucky sheep farmers to win the prize of a cord free shearing handpiece are Emma Reid from Turriff, Aberdeenshire and Nancy Leaney from Newcastle Emlyn, Dyfed.  The prizes, worth more than £450 each, are kindly provided by supplier of premium products to the animal industry, Rurtec Ltd. NSA will give 12 prizes away throughout 2025.

Emma started sheep farming in 2015 following a dispersal of dairy cattle when she purchased 250 breeding ewes to eat down the grass. Alongside her husband she now runs a flock of 220 commercial ewes along with 50 finishing cattle. The couple also run a bed and breakfast unit for 1000 pigs.

Emma is looking forward to the convenience the clippers will provide this summer. She says: “They are going to be ideal for dagging ewes pre tupping, and will also be of great use to carry with us whilst checking the sheep in the summer months for blowfly attack. We can simply catch the sheep and trim it quickly.”

NSA member Nancy was stunned when she received the phone call to let her know she had been selected as a winner. She entered the competition having read about it on the NSA website.

Nancy and her husband have farmed for more than 40 years and are now supported by the next generation of her family on farm. Nancy explains their enterprise: “We farm in West Wales and favour North Country Mules as breeding females using a Suffolk ram for flock replacements, replenishing the Mules every three or four years. Our flock is based on providing finished lambs for slaughter using Texel, Charollais and Beltex rams to produce finished lambs.”

Nancy has been a member of NSA for several years and says she has found being a member of NSA useful  when they needed veterinary students to help on farm at lambing time. “We also enjoy a day out at the regional events and are looking forward to NSA Welsh Sheep taking place near Hay on Wye this week. We really enjoy the Event farm tours, finding we can take away ideas for our farm,” she adds.

The new mobile clippers, Nancy says, will be very useful when sheep away from home require attention and need to be cleaned up. “I look forward to trying them out shortly, and am sure they will be a valuable piece of equipment to have on farm.”

There are now eight more chances to win with NSA and Rurtec this year. Interested parties can learn more about the giveaway and enter by visiting the NSA website www.nationalsheep.org.uk/draw to enter the prize draw that is open to all UK sheep farmers over the age of 16. Both NSA members and non-members can enter, but entries are limited to one per person/email address. 

NSA will be welcoming entries for the competition at its events taking place this summer as well as its usual stands at Balmoral Show, Northern Ireland, the Royal Highland Show, the Royal Welsh Show, and its presence at NSA Ram Sales.

It is a busy summer of activity for NSA with the return of popular NSA sheep events across the UK. NSA events offer sheep farmers a fantastic day out with NSA members receiving free or discounted entry. Visitors can enjoy NSA Welsh Sheep, NSA North Sheep, NSA Highland Sheep, NSA Sheep South West, and NSA Sheep Northern Ireland this summer. Find out more about NSA events at www.nationalsheep.org.uk/events.

Further information on the Lanati Astron cord-free handpiece can be found on the Rurtec website www.rurtec.com.

Pictured: Emma and her family (left), and Nancy (right)