A leading beef and sheep unit near Dunbar is set to host Scotland’s national sheep event, NSA Scot Sheep, next year.
Organised by the Scottish Region of the National Sheep Association (NSA), NSA Scot Sheep 2024 will be held on Wednesday, June 5, 2024, at Aikengall Farm, Innerwick, Dunbar, East Lothian.
Aikengall is farmed by the Hamilton family; James, Charles and Harry, along with their mother Vanessa. With their late father John, they moved there in 1998, from Dykefoot and South Cobbinshaw in Lanarkshire.
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“We are delighted the Hamilton family has agreed to host NSA Scot Sheep 2024,” explained NSA Scotland chair, Peter Myles.
“The 2022 event will be a hard act to follow, but, Aitkengall has all the ingredients for a terrific day out for Scottish sheep farmers; Great livestock, great hosts, and great views, what more could you want. Unless of course you want to see renewables; the impressive Aitkengall wind turbines will generate considerable amount of interest as well as power on the day I’m sure.
“The farm is in a great location and provides a varied and successful business that will be worth a visit to see. NSA Scottish Region is very excited to work with the Hamilton family over the next year in preparation for the event.”
Since taking on Aikenagall farm where its 1900 acres on the edge of the Lammermuir Hills, rise from 900 to 1200ft, the Hamilton family has extended their farming interests, incorporating the neighbouring 400 acre farm of Thurston Mains in 2004, taking on the tenancy of the 1200 acres farming unit of Nunraw farm at Garvald in 2010 and the 600 acre farm of Barney Mains, Near Haddington, in 2022.
The Hamilton’s lamb 1400 head each year at Aikengall, comprising 700 Blackface ewes bred pure for replacements, with the remaining 700 Blackface ewes crossed to the Bluefaced Leicester for producing Scotch Mules, where the females are retained for breeding. 1400 Scotch Mule ewes are put to the Texel tup and lambed at Nunraw in March.
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The farms also support a beef enterprise of 900 spring calving commercial cows, based on the Simmental breed using Simmental, Lincoln Red and latterly Aberdeen Angus bulls.
James Hamilton, who lives at Aikengall, says: “It will be a great pleasure and honour for us as a family to host such a prestigious event for the sheep industry in Scotland. We are looking forward to welcoming fellow farmers and seeing friends old, new, and not met yet to Aikengall, next June!”
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