Cullion: 'City' o' culture bid

From a sheep Rodeo for the weeuns to the sweet smell of country life while slurry-spreading, there's no place like it on the Planet according to a new Facebook campaign dedicated to having the 2013 City of Culture title bestowed on the mini country kingdom.

The inhabitants of Cullion might 'walk easy', but they take their culture fierce serious, to the point where the creators of the witty website have even created the area's own mascot, a coquette blonde with intense eyes called 'Sadie the Sheep'. In the space of just a few short days the site has already attracted over 200 friends, and the mysterious creators have appealed for Facebook members to spread the word about Cullion's bid.

The bid for the title may be months behind the 'Big Four', but the people of Cullion are, apparently, ready to make a determined 11th-hour sprint to the finish, and the site's moderator/creator has appealed for support, saying: "Dear Fans - please could you click on "Suggest to friends" ...were looking to get more backing... The other Big 4 finalists are way ahead of us - so lets show them The Underdog is willing to put up a fight !!!!! Thank-you."

If you are not up to admiring their pluck, then there is plenty more to admire about the official 'Cullion City of Culture' site. It boasts an ever-growing number of designs for the Official Cullion Bid T-Shirt; five spectacularly funny 'wall photos' that include a huge slurry spreader; a section of photos dedicated to the 'Cullion May Day Promotional Festival' that include a May Queen with lipstick-coated front teeth and a child clinging for dear life to a sheep in full gallop as well as Morris and Scottish dancing, Maypole making and a giant straw man. There is also 10 official City of Culture photos in the photo album.

The cherry on the cake, however, is the Cullion 2013 poster - a tasteful affair, fashioned landscape-style, featuring three Friesian cows on their hind legs each sporting sandwich boards with part of the campaign slogan daubed on, tryptic fashion, in red and black paint. Quality!

The poster has even made it onto the front page of the Sentinel, apparently, although the article is somewhat woolly and could well have been written by a sheep-faced writer.

They might not have a sheep in a sheugh's chance of winning the official title, but the site proves one thing - country people are right up there when it comes to having a laugh.

Since the site was created last week the number of online admirers has grown at a rapid pace. So, if you like comedy gold, and are into livestock, check it out at http://www.facebook.com/pages/CULLION-City-of-Culture-2013/123843684304714.