Programme of events

There’s lots to see and enjoy at the Festival – livestock shows and showcases, equine showcase, talks, demonstrations, a trade hall, craft fair and smallholder market and, of course, the opportunity to catch up with like-minded people! Use the programme below to plan your day, and the Festival plan to find your way around.

TimeEventLocation
9:00amFestival opens to public
All dayOur crafts people will be displaying their skillsDemonstration area, main hall
All dayVarious equine events; details at the Equine AreaEquine Area, Main Hall
All dayGuilds of Spinners, Weavers and Dyers will be displaying their skillsFoyer upper floor
9:00-10:00amRural Skills Competition Tabling of EntriesFoyer upper floor
9:30amSheep judging commencesSheep Area, Main Hall
9:30amGoat judging commencesGoat Area, Main Hall
9.30amCreation Mill's Journey in fibre processingRoom 1, Foyer upper floor
9:30amTBASRUC Theatre, Main Hall
9:30amA legal Update - Chris Lindsay, Thorntons SolicitorsRoom 2, foyer upper floor
9:30amTaking a look at your Well being bank account - Alix Ritchie, FarmstrongRoom 3 Foyer upper floor
9:30amHandcrafts workshop 1Handcrafts showcase, foyer lower floor
10:00amRural Skills competition judging commencesFoyer upper floor
10:00amPig judging commencesCentral Hall
10:30amTBASRUC Theatre, Main Hall
10:30amThe making of a meadow - Debby Richardson-Webb, The Lint MillRoom 1, Foyer upper floor
10:30amAn Introduction to Smallholding - Rosemary and Dan ChampionRoom 2, Foyer upper floor
10:30amThe right breed for the right place - all you need to know when choosing livestock - Alice Lennox RBSTRoom 3, Foyer upper floor
10:30amHeritage Breed Cookery Demonstrations with Wendy Barrie Scottish Food Guide Theatre, Foyer ground floor
11.00 amEquine paradeEquine Area, Main Hall
11:30amTBASRUC Theatre, Main Hall
11:30amGoat Rodeo GoodsRoom 1, Foyer upper floor
11:30amDisease Update - Dr Amy Jennings APHARoom 2, Foyer upper floor
11:30amThe PSF Scheme - how to make the most of the funding - Siobhan MacDonald SRUC / FAS
Room 3, Foyer upper floor
11:30amTaste Experience on Heritage Breeds: Wendy Barrie and Bosse Dahlgren Cookery Theatre, Foyer ground floor
11:30amHandcrafts workshop 2Handcrafts zone - foyer ground floor
12:30pmNew approaches to lamb castration and tail docking SRUC Theatre, Main Hall
12:30pmSmall Farm Agroecology - Abi Morden, PropagateRoom 1, Foyer upper floor
12:30pmPrivate slaughter made simple - A step by step guide for smallholders. Jenny McKerr QMSRoom 2, Foyer upper floor
12:30pmSmallholding vitality & viability: income, education and forest gardening - Pippa Downing Permaculture ScotlandRoom 3, Foyer upper floor
12:30pmTBACookery Theatre, Foyer ground floor
1:30pmGoat MOTSRUC Theatre, Main Hall
1:30pmThe art and craft of coppicing and why we should do more of it - Jo Edwards, Green Aspirations CICRoom 1, Foyer upper floor
1:30pmSupport for small producers - Lucy Filby, South of Scotland EnterpriseRoom 2, Foyer upper floor
1:30pmA beginners guide to soil fertility - Siobhan MacDonald SAC / FASRoom 3, Foyer upper floor
1.30pmArtisan Cheese Tasting with Scottish Cheese Trail: Wendy Barrie Cookery Theatre, Foyer ground floor
1:30pmHandcraft workshop 3Handcraft zone, ground floor
2:00pmEquine paradeEquine Area, Main Hall
2:30pmHow the Humane Slaughter Association charity supports smallholders and livestock producers with animal welfare training and advice. Marianne Farish, HSARoom 1, Foyer upper floor
2:30pmGrants, funding, access to land - Scottish Government workshopRoom 2, Foyer upper floor
2:30pmTBARoom 3, Foyer upper floor
2.30pmProper Bread - Wendy Barrie and Scotland the BreadScottish Food Guide Theatre
2:30pmSheep MOT: Practical tips for sheep keepers SRUC Theatre, Main Hall
3:00pmPresentation of Rural Skills competition prizesRural Skills area, Foyer upper floor
4:00pmFestival closes
Scottish Smallholder Festival event plan