Farm Shop Awards
NSA, together with EBLEX, is launching two new prestigious awards at the event which are designed to test the skills of farm shop owners located throughout the UK selling lamb, together with those of their managers or butchers.
The Best Farm Shop Award and the Best English Farm Shop Award are designed to provide real recognition for you and your team. They also offer great PR opportunities to help you promote the business and open new doors.
Entrants will be given one hour in which to prepare and display a variety of cuts from a whole dressed lamb carcase. In addition, they will be required to make up and cook lamb burgers.
The judges will be looking for entrants demonstrating the best set of butchery skills, together with innovation and appealing presentation.
So whether your farm shop is located in Aberdeenshire or Antrim, Cornwall or Carmarthenshire, we look forward to receiving your entry.
Download entry form (Microsoft Word)
Competition rules
The competition will take place at Three Counties Showground, Malvern on Tuesday, August 3, 2010, as part of the NSA Sheep 2010 event and in conjunction with EBLEX. You will be advised of the exact location on receipt of your entry. All entries must be received by Friday, July 16.
1. The competition is open to owners, managers and butchers of farm shops in the UK that sell lamb.
2. Minimum age for entry is 18 years.
3. There is no cost for entry but a £50.00 deposit is required with your entry, which will be refunded on the day of the competition.
4. Each competitor will be provided with an area of 610mm x 1220mm (2ft by 4ft) for preparation and an area of approximately 864mm x 610mm (34in x 24in) deep for displaying their cuts and products.
5. Start times will be allocated to competitors who will be allowed one hour to prepare and display a variety of cuts.
6. You will be provided with one whole dressed carcase of English lamb of which you may use as much or little as you wish. However, you will be required to put on a display consisting of at least 8 different cuts and products. Competitors may choose to bring powder marinades and seasonings to enable you to add value to cuts.
7. You will also be required to produce four lamb burgers. A mincer and burger presses will be provided for this and one of your burgers will be cooked as part of the judging process. Competitors may choose to bring seasonings for burgers as no seasonings will be supplied by EBLEX.
8. Please include tickets on your display. It is recommended that these include cooking times and methods.
9. All trays, platters and other display material (including garnish) are to be supplied by the competitor. Please remember that these must not overhang the designated display area.
10. Any prop, garnish, ticket or identification of any type, which would lead to the judges knowing the identity of the competitor, his or her company or trading name, must be removed from the display and preparation area before judging can commence.
11. Competitors must provide their own tools, (knife, saw, string etc) protective clothing and hat. ALL competitors MUST wear a stab proof protective apron and chainmail glove while working on their entry.
12. The overall competition will start at 10.00 and finish at 15.00. To ensure activity at all times, competitors will have staggered start times. Each entrant will be allowed 10 minutes before the start of the competition and 10 minutes clear-up time afterwards.
13. The decision of the judges will be final and no correspondence will be entered into after the event.
14. Presentation of awards and certificates will take place at 16.00.
15. There will be an award for the champion farm shop butchery and two runner-up awards. The awards will be judged according to the following criteria:
* Butchery – considering butchery skills, innovation and carcase utilisation.
* Meat display – considering meat counter presentation and consumer appeal.
* Lamb burger – considering cooking quality, texture and eating quality.
Prizes will be awarded to the Best Farm Shop and the Best English Farm Shop.
If more entries are received than can be accommodated, places will be reserved on a first come, first served basis. All entrants will receive confirmation of participation as well as timings at least one week before the event. For any enquiries, please call 01480 482981.