NSA cancels West event due to Covid-19

CORONAVIRUS uncertainty has put paid to the National Sheep Association’s (NSA) major regional events for 2021.

Despite the promise of an ease of lockdown and ultimate removal of restrictions as 2021 progresses, the NSA said its regional organising committees were “unanimous” in their “difficult and disappointing” decision to postpone for this year.

Among the events affected is NSA Sheep South West, which had been due to take place on Tuesday, June 22 at Rampisham Manor and Cobham Farms in Rampisham near Dorchester, by kind permission of Robert Boileau. A new date of Tuesday, June 20, 2023 has already been pencilled in the diary.

Phil Stocker, chief executive of the NSA, said: “All at NSA are so disappointed to have to cancel our popular events. We recognise these events provide opportunity for the sheep farming community to come together for a valuable day of knowledge exchange, a chance to view new and innovative products and to enjoy an opportunity to catch up with friends.

“But the ongoing risk and uncertainty surrounding large events have unfortunately meant that the difficult, but what we consider responsible, decision to postpone them had to be made.”

The latest postponements follow the sad cancellation of all 2020 events. including the flagship NSA Sheep Event last July. Attention will now turn to ensuring this and other events now planned for 2022 and 2023 are able to return safely and offer the usual popular mix of seminars, farm tours, competitions, demonstrations, trade stands and other elements enjoyed by sheep farmers across the UK.

Mr Stocker added: “NSA’s series of events are run on a biennial calendar meaning these recently postponed regional events will now not return until 2023. However, we hope NSA members and other interested visitors will consider travelling to events that will run in 2022 and join the smaller activities that will now be planned in the regions, such as farm walks and field days.

“The service NSA provides to members through events is of utmost importance, so we are actively looking at other ways to deliver important updates on policy and practical information. NSA has found an online offering of these to be most effective while Covid-19 has prevented face to face gatherings, and it is now planned to continue to offer a blend of these and in-person events to the benefit of our valued members.”

The event postponements do not include the NSA’s annual ram sales, all five of which will be held later in the year. These include the NSA South West ram sale in August.

Further details on NSA events, both online and in-person, and NSA rams sales, can be found at www.nationalsheep.org.uk/events.