In a special one-day event being organised by the National Sheep Association (NSA) and the Royal Agricultural Society for England (RASE), innovative ideas, fresh approaches and ambitious business models will all be debated to showcase the sheep sector as an exciting and appealing career path.

The event will also see NSA reveal future plans for NSA Next Generation, the organisation’s project dedicated to young people in the sector, signposting them to opportunities and information and providing guidance and personal/business development. Specifically at the event, NSA will unveil a new website dedicated to the project and open the application process for the NSA Next Generation 2014 Ambassadors.

There is no fee for the event on Tuesday 8th October, 10am to 3pm at Manor Farm, Sutton Mandeville, Wiltshire, SP3 5NL, and lunch will be provided. All are welcome, be they running their own sheep farming business, taking more responsibility on the family farm, just starting out, or hoping to one day begin their own flock.

Host Tim White, who will take visitors on a farm tour as part of the day’s activities, underlines the event’s theme of ‘Getting on the farming ladder’, as he has built up a thriving business with no family farm behind him and now runs a flock of Exlana sheep on rented ground over a 100-mile radius.

Tim says: “I’m very proud to be hosting this event, as I think it’s really important to not only get new people into the sheep sector but also to inspire and encourage the next generation and look at successful business models, new innovations and novel ideas.”

Joining Tim as a speaker at the event is 25-year-old Marie Prebble, NSA South East Committee Member and highly successful NSA Young Shepherd of the Year competitor. She will be sharing her experiences of running a sheep enterprise on a tenanted farm near Canterbury, Kent. Nuffield Scholars Catherine Nakielny and Rob Hodgkins will also be talking about their travels abroad, looking at ground breaking sheep breeding techniques in other major sheep producing nations.

Phil Stocker, NSA Chief Executive, says: “This is set to be a really useful and enjoyable event and I would urge people to attend. We’re excited to be spreading the word about NSA Next Generation, as well as hearing from some really ambitious and inspiring young people involved in the sheep sector.”

“This event will showcase real life case studies of those who are working hard to contribute to a profitable and forward thinking sector. We look forward to supporting NSA Next Generation as it continues to develop and support future farmers,” says Charlotte Johnston, Livestock Specialist at RASE.

The event is free to attend but attendees are asked to register in advance at www.rase.org.uk/events.