HEXHAM and Northern Marts has revealed it will be the headline sponsor of a major sheep show as it returns to Northumberland next year.

The mart has shown its support for the National Sheep Association’s (NSA) North Sheep 2021 which will be hosted at Bradford House Farm, near Ponteland, on Wednesday, June 2.

The show will be hosted by farmer Willie Woodman, of JE Woodman & Sons, who is a long-term customer at Hexham and acted as company director. Alongside his wife Christine and son Martin, Mr Woodman will present the workings of the family’s traditional Northumbrian sheep farm, focussing on the production of top-quality prime and breeding sheep they sell at Hexham Mart.

The event itself will take place at the Woodman’s 930-acre farm, home to a lowland flock of 250 Mule Ewes and 200 Texel cross ewes. There will also be a display of Blackface sheep from Great Chesters, the family’s 1,200-acre hill farm.

Robert Addison, the mart’s managing director, said: “We are delighted to have NSA North Sheep returning to Northumberland and on our doorstep next year and to have the opportunity to support both the event and the Woodman family. I am sure that given the cancellation of this year’s shows and sheep events, people will be particularly keen to attend, not just in terms of learning and knowledge transfer, but from a social aspect, to meet with like-minded farmers and friends. Bradford House Farm is a tremendous livestock farm and this unique event will provide the thousands people expected to attend with an insight into the production techniques of one of our long-standing customers along with a showcase roadmap to increased profitability.”

The NSA North Sheep is a key date in the industry’s diary, attracting thousands of sheep farmers from across the north of England and beyond.

In addition to the huge number of trade stands expected, there will be a series of seminars and demonstrations covering all areas of the sheep industry.

NSA Northern regional manager, Heather Stoney- Grayshon, said: “We are very pleased to announce this partnership with long standing supporters Hexham and Northern Marts. It is only thanks to commitment from businesses such as this that we the northern region of the NSA is able to host what I hope will once again be a fantastic celebration of the sheep farming industry.”