School groups, families and other young sheep enthusiasts took the opportunity to test their skills at a series of junior competitions at this month’s Australian Sheep & Wool Show, in Bendigo.
In the Merino Fleece judging competition, Ella McCarthy, 16, of Woodleigh School at Langwarrin South, defended her title.
The Year 10 student will now go onto compete in the national final in Tasmania next year. Ella placed third in this year’s national final, which was held in conjunction with the Sydney Royal Easter Show.
The 18 young participants at Bendigo evaluate two lots of four fleeces, giving a spoken and then written assessment.
Eloise Van-Moorsel, Elizabeth Murdoch, came second and Ash Purcell, also of Woodleigh, came third.
Tenty-one year-old Will Nadin, Boonoke stud, Conargo, NSW, took out the Junior Merino Sheep Judging. It was the first time he had competed at Bendigo.
“I enjoy working with sheep and wool, and I hope to pursue a future in the industry, probably first as a jackaroo,” Mr Nadin.
Will Miller, Glenpaen, Brimpaen, came second and Shaun Kopp, Towalba, Peakhill, NSW, came third.
In the Meat Sheep Judging classes, the winner Kaylan Walker, University of Melbourne Dookie College, in second place was Eloise Van- Moorsel, Elizabeth Murdoch College at Langwarrin, and in third Christopher Cox, also of Elizabeth Murdoch College.