Highland Show Flies The Homecoming Flag In Canada

Royal Highland Show Livestock Manager Kate Stephen is heading for Canada next week to encourage North American ex-pats to visit the show as part of the Homecoming Scotland 2009 celebrations.

Kate will be targeting the one million plus visitors to the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair in Toronto - one of the world’s leading farm and equestrian shows. The Fair takes place from November 7 – 16.

The message will be to come to Scotland to see another of the world’s best shows where the focus is on iconic Scottish breeds such as Clydesdale horses, Aberdeen Angus cattle and Blackface sheep.

Kate said:  “Homecoming is all about celebrating what’s good about Scotland and the Royal Highland Show certainly fits that bill. Many farming families in Canada and America have Scottish roots and I will be in Toronto encouraging them to visit their homeland next year.”

There’s plenty of emphasis on Scottish native breeds at the Toronto Winter Fair with classes for Angus, Galloway, Highland,  Shorthorn and Ayrshire cattle. Scotland’s gentle giants of the equestrian world, Clydesdale horses, also take part in show and performance classes.

In North America, Clydesdales are a common sight in many cities where they are employed by leading breweries as dray horses.

Kate said:  “I plan to meet many of the key livestock co-ordinators who I am sure will be keen to encourage their members to come to Scotland to view home breeds on their home turf and to join in the spirit of Homecoming. Each year, we have significant numbers of overseas visitors and in 2009 we plan to welcome many more, whether they are Scots, of Scottish descent or who simply love Scotland.”

The Royal Highland Show will also be promoting at other international farming events as part of its involvement in Homecoming.

Note to Editors:  

• The Royal Highland Show -  major sponsor The Royal Bank of Scotland -  will take place at the Royal Highland Centre, Ingliston, Edinburgh, on June 25-28.  The show, with its focus on farming, food and countryside, is one of Scotland’s leading summer attractions with an attendance of around 160,000. 
• Website: www.royalhighlandshow.org
• Homecoming Scotland 2009 is a Scottish Government initiative managed by Event Scotland in partnership with Visit Scotland.  In addition to marking the anniversary of the birth of Scotland’s national poet Robert Burns, Homecoming will celebrate throughout 2009 Scotland’s rich culture and heritage, including events such as the Royal Highland Show. www.homecomingscotland.com

Further information: 

Judith O’Leary or Ross Muir at O’LearyRMPR
Tel: 01383 432608    Email: info@olearyrmpr.co.uk
Gayle Wilson, Homecoming Scotland 2009
Tel: 0131 472 2067   Email: gayle.wilson@eventscotland.com
Fiona Stewart, VisitScotland
Tel: 0131 472 2033   Email: fiona.stewart@visitscotland.com