What’s On

The Festival aims to inform, educate and inspire, and to give you the opportunity to access information and advice from experienced practitioners that will support and encourage you in your future smallholding ventures.

The 2022 Festival will have a programme of talks in the Store Ring, including a “Big Issue” debate; the Sheep Ring will be used for practical demonstrations.

We will have lots of other things for you to see and enjoy – shows, showcases, a trade hall and of course the opportunity to catch up with like-minded people!

Competitions and shows

We are running competitive shows, so we hope you will join us. Entries are now open and close on Saturday 1st October, so there’s plenty of time to get your entries ready!

  • Our Poultry & Waterfowl Show has classes for turkeys, geese, ducks and poultry.
  • Our Sheep show has a range of classes focused on young stock as well as best horns and young handler sections. The young handler classes have changed to allow young handlers to show their own lambs, regardless of whether they are prdigree or not. Our judge will be looking for knowledge of sheep and sheep care, as well as handling skills.
  • Our Goat show also features classes for young stock and young handler competitions
  • The Pig show has classes for all traditional breeds of pig and well as the delightful Kunekune. And there’s classes for handlers too – involving pig agility!
  • Our Garden, Craft & Food competition has classes for preserving, baking, hand crafts, raw fleece, sticks and crooks, honey, and eggs as well as a section especially for youngsters.

There are two photography competitions – one for cattle and one for equines. Entries will open on 15th May and close 10th October, and winners will be announced on Friday 21st October.

View the schedules

Livestock showcases

Central to the Festival is our Livestock Showcases – for most smallholders, livestock are a “must-have” – but what to choose?

The Festival aims to have as many breeds of pigs, sheep, goats, cattle and equines, as well as alpacas, on display as possible, along with their owners and breed societies, so that smallholders and aspiring smallholders can make the right choice for them. You will also be able to visit the poultry lines to get a view of the different birds you can own.

Seminars & demonstrations

Colleen McCulloch, Soil Association Scotland
Colleen McCulloch, Soil Association Scotland

The full programme can be found on the Programme of Events page.

Trade Exhibition

The Festival Trade Exhibition will showcase the best suppliers and services for smallholders and small scale producers, including equipment, machinery, renewable energy generation, food production, grassland management and livestock husbandry as well as fibre produce and skills development. Don’t forget you will also be able to learn about crook and stick making as well as bees and honey, and talk to farm based organisations.