Venue Announced for NSA North Sheep 2019

The National Sheep Association (NSA) has today announced that one of the UK Sheep industry’s main biennial events, NSA North Sheep, will be hosted by Frankland Farms at Rathmell near Settle in North Yorkshire.

Frankland Farms is a family farming enterprise, with the partnership headed by brothers Richard and Chris Frankland. Farming 900 acres across three holdings they have a flock of 1200 sheep, 120 head of Suckler Cattle plus 350 replacement and store cattle and they milk 220 head of dairy cattle. Their sheep farming enterprise focusses on producing top quality prime lambs, from Texel cross and Mule ewes put to Beltex rams. This is a strategy that works, and the Frankland family are noted for producing exceptional quality lambs which are regularly seen winning the weekly prime stock shows and topping their local markets in Skipton and Bentham.

NSA North Sheep organised by the Northern Regional Committee of the NSA, is a showcase for all sectors of the sheep industry. Being held on Wednesday 5th June 2019, the thousands of people who attend will have the opportunity to see first-hand how one farming family operates a hugely successful sheep farming enterprise in one of the wettest parts of the UK. The hundreds of display and exhibit stands will highlight the latest industry trends, equipment and technology and the many seminars will provide a platform for knowledge transfer, open discussion and debate.

Frankland Farms is very much a family business with a number of family members involved. Since they arrived at New Hall in the late 1800s, this is the sixth generation of the family to have farmed here. Running up to 1000 feet, New Hall is renowned for the calibre of its commercial sheep.

Members of the National Sheep Association for many years, Richard and Chris have themselves been attending NSA North Sheep events for as long as they can remember. Speaking on behalf of the family on the announcement of the chosen venue Richard said: “We are absolutely delighted and privileged to be asked to host this very important sheep industry event and we are looking forward to welcoming people to the farm next year. Our aim is to show people how a livestock farming enterprise is managed in one of the UK’s highest rainfall areas, the challenges that we face and how we overcome them.”

Situated quite literally on the Yorkshire/Lancashire border and on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales National Park, New Hall is a traditional grassland Dales farm and on announcing details of the venue, Northern Regional Manager and Events Organiser, Heather Stoney-Grayshon said:

“I would like to thank the Frankland Family for agreeing to host NSA North Sheep 2019. It is ten years since NSA North Sheep has been held in this part of the Northern region and we are delighted to be returning. This is a tremendous livestock farm with an exceptional commercial sheep flock so, for the thousands of people we expect to attend we really do feel that New Hall offers something very special. The farm also has the most magnificent panoramic views, it is easily accessible and centrally located.”

As an organisation, the National Sheep Association (NSA) represent the views and interests of sheep producers throughout the UK, receiving tremendous support from everyone connected with the industry. The NSA is funded by the memberships of its sheep farmers. Together with the many industry related activities it is involved with, it aims to ensure that it plays a key part in every aspect of the sheep farming sector.