The Australian Fleece Competition is back and celebrating its 20th year

The competition, which is a partnership between Nutrien Wool, the Australian Sheep Breeders Association and the Australian Wool Testing Authority, is the largest fully-measured fleece competition in the world.

Each fleece is tested to AWTA standards and also assessed by a judging panel.

Nutrien Wool account manager Candice Cordy said only the smallest margins separated the best fleeces.

Ms Cordy said entries for this year's competition were coming from all over the country.

"We're hoping to put on a good display for obviously people to fight it out for the top titles but also for visitors to the show to have a look at a lot of different types of wool and hopefully learn something by getting to see them all together with their test results," she said.

"We've had some exhibitors who've had fleeces in the competition each year since it began, that's really great."

Each year the competition also raises money for a nominated charity, with over $177,000 raised since 2001.

Ms Cordy said the charitable aspect of the show also appealed to exhibitors.

Former Landmark wool account manager Athol Frederick was convener of the competition from its inception until 2017.

Mr Frederick said the idea for the competition was very simple.

"It become obvious that there was no wool at the Australian Sheep & Wool Show," he said.

"The show had been running for a long time and it just seemed very unusual to have a national sheep and wool show that didn't have a fleece competition.

"Fleece competitions hadn't been altered since the 1970s when testing of wool came in, so most fleece shows weren't using current technology results on wool.

"The industry had to design a competition that was relevant for today."

He said as well as using current technology, the competition was designed to educate woolgrowers and the industry at large, as well as include all main wool types.

The first year of the competition saw 218 entries, with the top prize going to Walter Bruce Merriman, Merryville stud, Boorowa, NSW.

Since then the competition has doubled in entries.

Fleeces shorn from July 2019 to June 2021 will be eligible this year.