A growing number of budding ag-enthusiasts are expected to make the weekend trip to Bendigo this year, so many so the Australian Sheep Breeders' Association (ASBA) plans to expand its Future of Farming program.
ASBA has partnered with the Ross McKenzie Trust to host this series of events, which includes junior judging and the schools competition, and pays tributes to the best and brightest young farmers.
Commercial, stud and agricultural colleges and schools will be competing for 45 prizes in all major wool types.
The Ross McKenzie Fellowship provides for more than 180 students from 15 schools to attend courses on sheep genetics, vaccines, wool testing, the eating quality of sheepmeat and development of the Corriedale breed.
Among the schools teams making the trip up to Bendigo, is the Tinternwood Farm team, made up of students and staff at Tintern Schools, Ringwood East.
The Australian Sheep & Wool Show is the biggest show on the calendar for the team.
Farm services manager Gavin Wall said the flock's performance depended on the judges and competition, but was certain the school's Young Farmers Program students would enjoy and benefit from the show.
This year's show will be the 14th that Tintern Schools have been involved in, and it was a multi-faceted learning experience for the students, Mr Wall said.
There was a bevy of jobs for the young farmers to do, ranging from choosing competitive animals to preparing and showing them and participating in judging competitions, he said.
"Their ability and the manner in which the students conduct themselves see other breeders ask them to show their animals, which makes me proud," Mr Wall said.
Each of the 25 to 35 students is responsible for preparing one sheep.
Mr Wall expects to take 24 animals to this year's show.
As well as responsibility, showing and judging sheep teaches students skills such as improved memory and public speaking that they can use whether they decide to pursue a career in agriculture or not, Mr Wall said.
"When they are judging animals, I encourage the students to look at the positive attributes in an animal – a philosophy they can apply to other areas of life."
The bus to Bendigo on the Thursday was full of chatter and laughter, but after the busy weekend, the trip home after the show was "rather quiet", he said.
Since the former cattle, sheep and grain farmer joined the school in 2002, the flock's wool quality, growth rate, confirmation and breed characteristics have progressed, which is reflected by their recent showing success.
Fertility has also increased. The Romneys have a lambing percentage of 200 per cent live lamb and East Friesians 225pc.
"With only a small flock of 24 Romney ewes and 15 East Friesian ewes, if we lose a lamb the percentage takes a hit," Mr Wall said.
The Tinternwood stud had gone from buying Romney rams from established breeders when it was started in 1986 to selling rams to them.
Romneys suited the 5.7-hectare farm's sometimes wet conditions, and East Friesians were added to the flock to in 2006.
Because the school is in Melbourne's suburbs, the Tinternwood farm gave "city kids" a broad understanding of raising sheep, cattle and poultry and growing fruit and vegetables, Mr Wall said.
Year 7 students do a semester of agricultural studies and the subject is set to be reintroduced at Year 10 level for the second semester of this year.
Secondary students can also join the Young Farmers Program, and work on the farm during lunch breaks.
