Why we’re baa-cking the Flock to the Show initiative

From our taste for tartan to a comforting portion of Shepherd’s Pie, sheep are an important part of our everyday life.

In celebration of sheep, and the return of the Golden Shears world sheep shearing championship, The Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland (RHASS) has launched a large-scale public art campaign titled ‘Flock to the Show’.

Over 30 specially designed fibreglass sheep painted by local artists will be shepherded across Scotland and, in support of the initiative, Food Standards Scotland (FSS) has sponsored the sheep titled ‘Home Sweet Home’.

Working with the farming industry and primary producers, FSS helps to ensure food is safe and authentic from farm to fork and the artist tasked with painting our sheep, Gillian Robb, has taken inspiration from her farm in Ayrshire.

Producing beef cows, commercial sheep and laying hens, Gillian’s connection to the countryside was a perfect fit with FSS.

“My design for ‘Flock to the Show’ is very personal to me and signifies the way I see farming and what the rural community means to me. The painting of the tree line at our family farm signifies the past, present and future and the power and stay of nature. It is the tree line that means everything; home, family, farming, history, the future, hard work, resilience, emotion, ups and downs, happiness, sunshine, rain, growth,” said Gillian.

Another key issue which she hopes the artwork highlights is the lack of land availability for new entrant farmers which she feels limits the growth and development of the agricultural sector.

“New entrants may face challenges in accessing land and may be forced to rent or buy land at high prices, which can make it difficult to establish a profitable farming operation. This can lead to a decline in the number of new farmers entering the industry, reducing innovation and competitiveness.”

Robbie Newlands, who farms beside Forres in Morayshire, has been a director with RHASS for nine years. He says that it’s important that the Royal Highland Show brings different organisations together to celebrate Scotland’s farm to fork story.

“Like a lot of the country, we’re in the middle of lambing and you only need to drive out into the countryside now and see how vital sheep are to our rural economy.

“The Royal Highland Show is the country’s main agricultural event and it’s important for consumers to engage with where their food comes from. Scotland has a proud story to tell when it comes to agriculture and the Flock to the Show initiative is a fantastic way to showcase one aspect of our food chain.”

Following the Golden Shears, the flock will be auctioned at a special event to raise funds that will support the Royal Highland & Agricultural Society of Scotland Bicentennial Fund, which will fund projects dedicated to sustainability in the rural sector.

Jennifer Shaw, FSS Head of Marketing and Publications says:

“The success of the Flock to the Show art installation so far has been incredibly positive with some sites welcoming over 5000 people within a two-week period.

“We’re very proud to be part of this initiative and anyone who would like to visit and snap a picture with ‘Home Sweet Home’ can do so at Glasgow Queen Street Station from 2-14 May before moving onto Edinburgh and the Scottish Borders.”

For more information about Flock to the Show visit the Royal Highland Show website.