A PASSION for the sheep industry shone through for third-year university student Emily Webb Ware, who was selected as the highest achiever in the senior class for the SA Sheep Expo.
This is the third consecutive time in the event’s three-year history that the award, which includes a New Zealand study tour, has been won by a Victorian with the 20-year-old from Glenburn in north east Vic.
This was her second time at the expo, after hearing about it from a friend who came in the inaugural year.
“I’m really interested in sheep and I love the sheep industry,” she said. “This seemed like an awesome opportunity to get more involved, make a few more connections and learn a lot of stuff in a really interactive way.”
She said it was also a chance to learn more about SA and how it compared to her experiences in Vic.
Ms Webb Ware said she was particularly excited about the chance to tour NZ – a place she had wanted to visit for some time.
“I think they’re doing a lot of interesting stuff and in the sheepmeat industry, they are one of our major competitors,” she said.
“To be able check out where they’re at, it’d be pretty awesome.”
Ms Webb Ware grew up on a sheep and cattle farm, running about 400 cattle and 2000 ewes, which are joined to Southdown rams to produce prime lambs.
She is in her third year of a Bachelor of Agriculture at the University of Melbourne and is due to finish this year.
While she eventually wants to return to the farm, she would like to spend a few years working in the sheep sector, including on big sheep properties across Australia.
“I want to get more time in the industry to get more experience and perspective on the livestock industry,” she said.
Ms Webb Ware said the strength of the event was proof that there was a strong group of people in the next generation who were ready to enter the industry.
“I think there will always be passionate young people wanting to go into ag,” she said.
“Hanging around in the past couple of days, there is so much passion about.”
Hanging around in the past couple of days, there is so much passion (for ag).
- EMILY WEBB WARE
She said this was also helped by the larger picture of the sheep industry.
“The fact things are going well – wool prices are up and lamb prices are up – it gives a really optimistic face to agriculture and the sheep industry and people are keen to get in,” she said.
“But there will always be people who love sheep and love the industry and will always be prepared to stick through the tough times as well.”
Elizabeth Anderson
Editor of Stock Journal.
Editor of Stock Journal.
