The World Angus Forum 2017 is fast approaching, and this year it is coming home for the first time in forty years.
Taking place every four years, we’re delighted to be hosting this year’s Forum and inviting delegates and breeders from all over the world to the United Kingdom to experience this world class breed in its original home.
This year’s World Angus Forum will take place from Friday 16th June to Sunday 2nd July and will include tours of notable herds and tourist attractions in Scotland, England, Ireland, and the World Secretariat which will be hosted in Edinburgh. The English tour will see attendees treated to a visit to the Royal Three Counties Show, which hosts the UK summer national show, and several top herds. In addition, attendees on the English tour will visit Stonehenge, the JCB Factory and have a night’s stay in the historic city of Oxford, dining at the impressive Exeter College.
The Irish tour will take in the All Ireland Championship at Newry Show and visit the well-known herds at Liss and Gigginstown. There will also be a visit to the world famous Guinness Brewery in Dublin for a taste of the national beer!
The World Forum will then incorporate attendance at the Royal Highland Show and a two-day technical conference called ‘From Consumption to Conception’ where attendees will learn all about the beef production process, equipping them to meet the ever-changing consumer demands in the current environment.
Following the Royal Highland Show and the two-day technical conference, we will embark on the Scottish tour. We will visit established herds from the Scottish borders to Dingwall in the North, while also visiting the oldest existing Aberdeen-Angus herd to date at Ballindalloch. Attendees will then make their way to Tillyfour Farm, Alford, former home of the late William McCombie, one of the founding breeders of the Society then on to an unveiling of a memorial in Hugh Watson’s honour at Glamis Castle.
The World Angus Forum 2017 will also involve a Youth Competition, where teams of young enthusiasts will get the chance to compete in a number of different tasks and challenges, culminating in the grand finale at Netherton Farm, Perthshire on the final leg of the tour. Youth participants will not only be able to develop their skills and experience in the field, but will no doubt make great friendships with their peers from around the world, creating a really invaluable experience for all involved.
The excitement is really building for the World Angus Forum in the summer, and we’d encourage members and enthusiasts to get along wherever they can and help make this event a magnificent success. The event presents an unrivalled opportunity to meet with fellow breeders from every corner of the world, with confirmed attendees from North and South America, Australasia and all over Europe, and share in our experiences with the great breed and transfer valuable skills. On top of the great benefit that can be taken from attending the Forum, there is also a magnificent social programme planned that certainly won’t disappoint.
More information on the World Angus Forum, the full tour schedule and how to register can be found at: http://worldangusforum2017.com/ or through contacting Hazel Baxter, World Angus Forum 2017 Co-ordinator on hazel@aberdeen-angus.co.uk. We look forward to seeing you all there!