Buoyant prices for wool and prime lambs will ensure continued confidence when the industry comes together to showcase some of the best available sheep genetics and innovations at this year’s Hamilton Sheepvention.
Celebrating 40 years since the field days inception, the event takes place from August 6 to 7 at the Hamilton Showgrounds. In addition, the Hamilton Pastoral and Agricultural Society will commemorate 160 years of the annual sheep show which is held as part of Sheepvention.
According to Hamilton Sheepvention business manager Peta Anderson, this year’s event promises to be the biggest and best yet.
“Interest in this year’s event, particularly as Sheepvention is celebrating 40 years, has been very high from both breeders and industry exhibitors,” Ms Anderson said.
“It has been a positive year for the sheep and wool industries which certainly flows onto Sheepvention, we are anticipating a great show and attendances by visitors.”
The Sheepvention celebrations kick off with a special dinner on Saturday, August 4, at the showgrounds. The evening will include a three course meal, drinks and entertainment with local identity, James Freemantle from Red Gum Media, emcee for the night.
Sheepvention president Will Kinghorn said the organising committee was looking forward to welcoming back as many people as possible who have been involved in Sheepvention during the past four decades.
A special program of events has been planned to celebrate the 40-year history of Sheepvention which will run throughout the two days. It includes a special marquee featuring historical memorabilia, old inventions, heritage items, garments from the fashion parades and photographs.
Sheepvention will be officially opened in the Wool Shed Selling Centre on Monday at 12.15pm by musician James Blundell. Guest speakers will also include the Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources, David Littleproud, and Australian Wool Innovation (AWI) chairman Wal Merriman.
The sheep show reflects the diversity and history of sheep breeding in Australia, with strong representations from heritage breeds such as the Lincoln and English Leicesters, prime lamb breeds, dual-purpose breeds and the wool breeds. This year, the show’s feature breeds are the Texel and the Merino.
The annual pen of five Merino ram sale will be held on Tuesday August 7, attracting vendors and buyers from throughout Australia. Some of the industry’s best young stock agents will also be vying for the Young Auctioneers Competition title on the Monday.
Always a crowd-pleaser, Sheepvention will host the Coprice Victorian Yard Dog Championships, while the wool handling and blade shearing competitions have attracted entries from throughout Victoria and interstate.
With renewed interest in wool, this year’s AWI Australasian Young Designers Wool Awards has more than 30 entries and the winners will be revealed at a special presentation on Sunday, August 5. The award winners can be viewed at the daily fashion parades.
Ms Anderson said the fashion parades, wool craft displays and demonstrations, bespoke yarns and woollen fashion items are a feature of Sheepvention and aim to highlight the versatility of wool.
Visitors to the show will also be interested in the trade exhibitions which will showcase the latest sheep industry innovations and technology, along with extensive displays ranging from farm machinery, sheep handling equipment, agricultural advisory services to schools, clothing, horticulture and gourmet produce.
The Inventions competition is a firm favourite at the show and is designed to stimulate the invention, manufacture and display of new items that will benefit the sheep and wool industries and agriculture in general.
Judging takes place on the Monday and there are a range of categories open to enter including classes for budding student inventors.
The popular schools program has been expanded to include Lego robotics and Telstra coding workshops, a photographic competition, the Great Lamb Burger Challenge, bee-keeping, cooking classes and horticultural activities. Junior judging competitions for both cattle and sheep will also be held on the Tuesday.
A cattle marquee was introduced several years which will showcase a range of breeds and studs. Warrnambool school, Emmanuel College, will have their show cattle on display and demonstrations and presentations will take place throughout the two days.
Sheepvention visitors are also encouraged to stay on for a concert on the Monday night featuring James Blundell and the Wolfe Brothers