SHEARING time at the family's Broadwater farm was always Clare Price's (pictured) favourite time of year.
The now 22-year-old remembers racing home from school and fighting her older sisters Melissa and Rachael to have control of the broom to help out in the shed.
Her passion for wool has continued and at this year's Australian Sheep & Wool Show (ASWS), she will defend her state champion wool handling title.
Last year, Ms Price won the state novice wool handling title at the ASWS and went on to compete in the national competition that was held in November at Carcoar, NSW, and won the Australian Novice Wool Handling Title.
She has made the state final again this year, and because she has her wool classing stencil, she will participate in the senior class.
Ms Price is one of three people who have earned a spot in the senior state wool handling final this year. Finalists are chosen through the point system based on winning or placing in Victorian agricultural shows during the year.
It will be a busy event for the farm hand, who will also compete in the senior and open classes of the ASWS.
Since finishing school, Ms Price has worked on her family's farm called Mooralea (which is also the name of their Corriedale stud) where parents Noel and Pam run Hereford-Shorthorn cross cattle and sheep.
They have about 2000 head of the dual purpose sheep breed, and a stud that shares the property name.
She has done her Certificate IV in Agriculture and is now working on her diploma at Rural Industries Skill Training (RIST) at Hamilton.
She admitted that her successful bid for the national title was "pretty nerve-racking" but ultimately she had a "good feeling that the effort you put is recognised".
