With just two weeks to go, anticipation is building for Scotland’s largest two-day agricultural event, as Turriff Show prepares to welcome exhibitors and visitors on Sunday 2 and Monday 3 August.
This year’s show promises to be one of the most competitive yet, with more than 1,500 classes scheduled across the weekend. Entry numbers have now been confirmed, revealing a strong showing across all sections, including 267 cattle, 798 sheep and 583 horses and ponies, alongside goats, pigeons, rabbits, cavies, Clydesdales and Collie dogs.
As always, exhibitors from across Scotland are now turning their attention to final preparations, readying their animals for the main and livestock rings in what is set to be a showcase of quality and expertise.
A major highlight of the 2026 programme will be the Blue Texel National Sheep Show, taking place on Monday 3 August. The event will be judged by Stephanie Dick, a respected name in the livestock world and breeder of the award-winning Stephick Blue Texel and Beltex flocks.
Entries for the national show have reached an impressive 99, with exhibitors travelling from as far afield as Lockerbie, Glasgow and Perthshire, as well as the surrounding Aberdeenshire area. The strength of entries points to a highly competitive contest in the ring.
Among those exhibiting is Holly Buchan, Fieldsperson at Duncan Farms, who will be showcasing several animals, including her breeding ewe Josie. She said: “I love working with my Blue Texel sheep – they have an approachable temperament and make excellent natural mothers. They are an easy-to-handle, hardy breed, built to cope with the harshest Scottish weather, even though they’re not native, originating from the Netherlands. I’m really looking forward to exhibiting my best breeding ewe, Josie, a tup bought at Stirling last year, a ewe lamb, and a tup lamb.”
The Blue Texel is widely recognised as a modern terminal sire breed, valued for its exceptional muscling, strong growth performance and superior carcass quality. Known for its distinctive blue-grey colouring and balanced conformation, the breed continues to grow in popularity among both commercial producers and pedigree breeders.
Beyond the livestock rings, the show will also celebrate the region’s beef sector with the presentation of prizes for the annual carcase cattle and butchery lamb classes. This will take place at the Woodhead Brothers stand on Sunday at 3pm, with entries increasing year-on-year from commercial breeders and finishers across the North East.
The prestigious Champion of Champions title will once again be decided in the Main Ring on Monday, judged by Mr Donald Young of Perthshire. The competition will bring together champions from across the cattle, sheep, ridden pony, in-hand pony and Clydesdale sections.
Other key judging roles include Keith Redpath for overall cattle, Robin Avery for in-hand horse and pony, Christopher Patrick for ridden champion, Mr G Webster across goat classes, and Cammy Wilson of The Sheep Game overseeing overall and pairs in the sheep section.
Duncan Gray, President of Turriff Show, welcomed the strong entry numbers and return of a full programme following last year’s disruption.
He said: “A huge thank you to all the wonderful judges who come from near and far to be a part of our two-day event. We’re delighted to host the Blue Texel National Sheep Show and, following last year’s unfortunate early closure of the show, it’s really uplifting to see such large entry numbers for all classes again. It’s the quality and depth of our livestock classes that truly set our much-loved show apart.
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“We’re very thankful for the time and effort exhibitors and handlers put into preparing animals for the two-day show and will be ready to welcome them to Turriff in August.”
More information on the classes and judges can be found at www.turriffshow.org.
