National Young Stars Competition set for exciting return at NSA Sheep Event this summer

The National Sheep Association (NSA) is excited to announce the return of a popular young farming competition to its flagship event, NSA Sheep Event, this July.

The National Young Stars Competition is more than just a contest, it is a celebration of the next generation of agricultural talent. Bringing together passionate young stock enthusiasts from across the country, the competition is designed to challenge, inspire and develop the future leaders of the livestock industry.

The competition previously ran for five years until 2019 with young farmers from the sheep, beef, dairy and pig sectors all taking part. The relaunch for the sheep section of the competition is sure to be welcomed by the many enthusiastic young sheep handlers across the country.

Created for teams of two young people aged 12–18, the event provides a unique platform for competitors to showcase their abilities across a wide range of sheep keeping and presentation techniques. 

Competition Organiser Fiona Parker says: “National Young Stars will once again encourage participants to step beyond the show ring and develop the practical, personal and professional skills that are essential within modern agriculture.

“Throughout the competition, teams will be assessed across six exciting and demanding elements, including stock assessment challenges, ringcraft, livestock preparation, promotional display creation, industry knowledge questionnaires and interviews focused on breed and industry understanding. Each stage is carefully designed to test not only technical expertise, but also to build confidence, creativity and communication.”

Entries are now open for teams of two young sheep enthusiasts to take part in the competition that will take part on Tuesday 28th July as part of NSA Sheep Event at the Three Counties Showground, Malvern, Worcestershire. Teams will be required to provide their own sheep to be prepared and presented at the event. Entries for the contest are free but a deposit must be placed to secure one of the limited places. 

Teams will compete for an array of amazing prizes kindly donated by industry supporters as well as their share of a generous cash prize pot. 

The competition is generously supported by McCartneys Auctioneers and The Co-Op.

The attraction is sure to be a highlight of NSA Sheep Event 2026. NSA Communications Manager Katie James comments: “NSA Sheep Event is already a hugely enjoyable and valuable business event for many sheep farmers from across the UK. As an organisation committed to the support of the next generation of sheep farmers we are delighted to add this popular contest to our event attractions.”

Details of NSA Sheep Event can be found at www.sheepevent.org.uk. 

For further information including competition guidelines and entry forms please visit www.sheepevent.org.uk/attractions/competitions or email [email protected].