Judging championships foster young talent
AWI supports the National Merino Fleece and Merino Sheep Young Judges Championships to help bring through the next generation of young judges and Merino breeders.
Continuing its backing of previous years, AWI was once again the national supporter of both the National Merino Fleece Young Judges Championship and the National Merino Sheep Young Judges Championship, run by Agricultural Shows of Australia and held this year at the Melbourne Royal Show in October.
“AWI sponsors the events to support young people within the industry to further their skills through visual selection and appraisal of wool and sheep. By providing the opportunity to broaden their experiences and knowledge base through competition, the finalists become ambassadors for the wool industry,” AWI National Extension Manager Emily King said.
The Young Judges Championships are for people aged between 15 and 25 and help to train the next generation of young judges and livestock breeders. To participate in the National Championships, the competitors must first have won their own state finals.
Participants demonstrate their skills in communication, public speaking and breed and industry specific knowledge. They also get a chance to strengthen career opportunities through networking with colleagues and key industry stakeholders.
Chairman of Agricultural Shows Australia, Dr Rob Wilson, praised the work of the young judges and their valuable contribution to the agricultural sector. “The young judges play an important role in the future of Australian agriculture by identifying the best traits that will contribute to breeding the next generation of quality livestock,” he explained.
Merino Fleece Championship
Merino Fleece Young Judge competition winner Brendan Lamont from Western Australia (centre) with the other award finalists.
The National Merino Fleece Young Judges Championship was won by Brendan Lamont (23) from Tambellup in Western Australia, ahead of Grace Hillier (23) from St George in Queensland in second place, with Cally Spangler (23) of Launceston in Tasmania in third.
The other finalists were Alison West (24) from Kapunda in South Australia, Tiffany Maestrale (16) from Somerville in Victoria and Zara Kesby (15) from Bingara in NSW.
Competitors were required to judge two classes of four fleeces each (eight in total) and then explain their placing of one of the classes.
Growing up on a family farm with a fine wool Merino flock and now running his own Ile de France stud, Brendan brings first-hand experience to the competition. “I was looking for sound fleece with high commercial value, and it was a strong, viable round overall. Credit must go to all the competitors who made the competition worthwhile,” Brendan said.
For young people interested in judging, Brendan emphasised, “Listen to your teachers, and get involved in industry programs. It’s good to be on-farm and learn on the job, but it’s equally important to gain knowledge and experience across all aspects of the supply chain.”
Merino Sheep Championship
Merino Sheep Young Judge competition winner Bateson Pittman with third placegetter Kasey Shields (left) and runner-up Ashley Meaburn (right).
Bateson Pittman (17) from Walcha in NSW won the National Merino Sheep Young Judges Championship ahead of runner-up Ashley Meaburn (23) from Oatlands in Tasmania, and Kasey Shields (22) from Noorat in Victoria in third place.
The other finalists were Flynn Bolt (16) from Corrigin in Western Australia, Beau Maddern (17) from Cummins in South Australia and Grace Hillier (23) from St George in Queensland.
Competitors were required to judge four rams and four ewes. They then had to explain their placing of either the rams or ewes.
Bateson is the sixth generation on his family’s superfine Merino stud. He has been a competitive young judge for five years and greatly enjoyed taking part on the National Championships.
“It’s a respected competition and highly recognised within the industry. I really enjoy the sheep judging and show circuit, winning the competition certainly gives you a leg up for future judging opportunities,” Bateson said.
Bateson encourages anyone with a general interest in agriculture to follow their passions. “Go for it, make yourself known, be part of the industry, enter competitions, learn and develop your skills. There’s so many different paths to take, no matter your background or interests.”
More information: www.agshowsaustralia.org.au
This article appeared in the December 2024 edition of AWI’s Beyond the Bale magazine. Reproduction of the article is encouraged.
