A flock of Australia’s best sheep judges head to Sydney Royal Easter Show

Australia's best young sheep judges have been announced today by Agricultural Shows of Australia as eligible to compete in the prestigious national young judges championship in April. 
The competition brings together the best young judges aged 15 to 25 in each state to compete at the national finals. Qualification occurs through success in competitive regional and state competitions with only one per state making the national championship. 
The national championships are held in a different location each year. This year, the  Sydney Royal Easter Show, in its  bicentenary year, will host the 2022 championships including the 2021 finalists who were unable to compete at Ekka due to covid cancellations.

WESTERN AUSTRALIA

18 year old Chloe Taylor of Bindi Bindi and 19 year old Brendan Lamont from Tambellup will compete in the meat sheep young judges competition representing Western Australia.
“I’ve grown up all my life on our fourth generation family farm. When I was little, I was always fascinated by why other people were showing their sheep and how people get their animals prepared for the shows. This became a lot clearer when I had the opportunity when I first went to ag school. When I first got involved with the school's stud sheep, my teacher Colin Batt told us about the junior judging events and helped us with training on presentation, terminology, speaking to a judge and crowd,” Brendan said.
“My proudest moment would have been in 2019 when I got first place in the state meat breed junior judging, third place in the state wool junior judging, and one of my ewes came second place in her class,” Brendan said.
Makayla Brice from Boyup Brook and 16 year old Jorja Hamersley (pictured) of Walkaway will represent Western Australia in the Merino sheep young judges competition.
“I began judging in 2021 to fill in my time at boarding school and found a true passion for it. I always wanted to know what made the best sheep. With the help of my shearing teacher and fellow students I began to start competing in local shows. My first show was Wagin Woolarama 2021 and I gave it my best shot. Along the way I have picked up some amazing skills and some long life friends,” Jorja said.
 

20 year old Oaklee Treasure from Cunderdin and 23 year old Hayden Baker of Katanning  will compete in  the Merino fleece young judges competition for Western Australia. Hayden got involved in judging  in 2014 to meet people in his industry as a wool and livestock buyer. 

QUEENSLAND

Representing Queensland in the meat sheep young judges competition is 21 year old Kate-Elizabeth Worth of Warwick and 26 year old Georgia Lee (pictured) from Harristown in the meat sheep young judges competition.
“I have been to many shows around the Darling Downs exhibiting sheep and competing in junior judging competitions. I also won Miss Showgirl in St. George whilst living there and have competed at Ekka several times again with sheep. I’ve also had the opportunity to travel interstate to Sydney and Adelaide Royal shows which have a much larger scale competition,” Kate-Elizabeth said.
“My best show moment would honestly have to be the first year I won the state title. It was 2012 and it was one day before my 16th birthday. Mum and dad had just bought me some brand new Ariat boots that I was ready to show off in the ring. I was honestly so nervous about competing against the best in the state because I was so young. I can’t describe the rush I felt when the judge announced the winner, and it was me. All you could hear in the shed was my mum screaming and crying trying to run into the ring to hug me! We had worked so hard and travelled to so many shows and it paid off.” Georgia said. 
Georgia’s little sister Erin took out the title in 2013, while Georgia took out another two state titles in 2014 and 2019.
“It is honestly the best feeling to know your cheerleader never tires!” Georgia said.

Siblings 24 year old Phillipa and 22 year old Will Hacker (pictured)  of “Roselea” Muckadilla have both qualified in two competitions, each representing Queensland in the Merino sheep and fleece young judges competitions.
“I started competing at a young age at the state sheep shows, thanks to my parents and friends from other studs. My favourite show would have to be Bendigo Sheep Show because it brings all states together and you really get to see the range of merino that Australia has to offer. My best moment at a show would have to be winning both merino fleece and merino sheep junior judging," Will said.

NEW SOUTH WALES

20 year old Reece Webster from White Rock will represent New South Wales in the meat sheep young judges competition while 18  year old Campbell Rubie of Forbes will represent the state in the Merino sheep young judges competition.
“I've grown up on a family farm, which is a mixed farming enterprise, with the major focus on our Merino and Poll Merino Stud. I am actively involved in all farming activities, including sheep work, machinery work and many other activities,” Campbell said. 
19 year old Clarissa Peasley of Condobolin will compete in the Merino fleece young judges competition.
“I feel extremely comfortable in this atmosphere and believe it is so important to just try your best and help other people. Competing has taught me some of my life skills that will help me in the future. When I went to my first Sydney Royal in 2019, I became the youngest to place in the competition. I was awarded fifth and I only just got into the age bracket because I was turning 15 in the next month. I was still 14 when I competed! I have had such great experiences at many shows, both the big ones like Sydney and Melbourne and also the local ones. That’s where it all starts. I started by doing small town shows and getting experience with professional industry leaders that have a passion to bring youth into the sheep industry,” Clarissa said.
The 2022 cohort of delegates for New South Wales will be determined at the Sydney Royal ahead of the national competition.

SOUTH AUSTRALIA

19 year old Cody Jones and 18 year old Tom Megson from Kanmantoo will represent South Australia in the meat sheep young judges competition
“I was involved at the Royal Adelaide Show in the school's goat team and also part of the Merino wether team. I recently judged some Merino Fleece at a country show, Mannum and also got some practice with judging meat sheep at my local show, Mt Barker Show,” Tom said.
“My favourite show is probably the Yorke Peninsula Field Day at Paskeville, and looking at all their big machinery on display. And I enjoy watching the fireworks at the end of the night at the Royal Adelaide Show.”
20 year old Emi Hughes (pictured below) of Sampson Flat will represent South Australia in the Merino sheep young judges competition. 
“I have been competing in local and royal shows with my own sheep, school steers and wethers, and a local cattle stud for the last seven years. I have had the chance to participate in junior judging and handlers, stewarding and competing as a young rural ambassador. I have also competed in the SA Heifer Expo and SA Sheep Expo, all of which have been great opportunities to meet life-long friends,” Emi said.
“I dream of myself managing the sheep studs and commercial cattle at home. It has always been where I feel my happiest.”

20 year old Sophie Nuske of Port Lincoln and 19 year old Shania Cornish (pictured below) of Sheringa will represent South Australia in the Merino fleece young judges competition.
“I started competing in young judging competitions in 2018 when I competed in the beef cattle judging at Mount Gambier Show. From then onwards, I competed at Mundulla, Penola and Royal Adelaide Shows, helping to increase my confidence within the judging and it’s different components. Coming from a mixed enterprise farm where we have always had Merino sheep, I guess over time I’ve become more appreciative of good quality wool due to the opportunities that Young Judges competitions have given. From a young age I had always been in the shearing shed helping at shearing time and the constant exposure has definitely helped me be on the right foot,” Shania said.

“I come from a long line of farmers and graziers on both sides of my family and take this legacy very seriously. My parents both grew up on the land in different areas of South Australia, and our family’s history of farming goes back for five generations. I grew up on 12,000 acres of grazing and farming at the property I still call home, ‘Hillsea Station’ in Sheringa, a small, isolated area of the Eyre Peninsula, on the west coast of South Australia,” Sophie said.

TASMANIA

22 year old Molly Cornish from Bridport and 23 year old Tory Hood of Longford will compete in the meat sheep young judges competition. Tory has followed her younger brother Sym’s footsteps in young judging. 
“I have competed with horses for the past 18 years at local shows in my state. I was actually competing with my horse at Campbell town when I won the meat breeds judging,” Tori said.
Tori’s brother 19 year old Sym Hood (pictured above), a shearer from Longford, has qualified to compete in both the Merino sheep and Merino fleece young judges competition also. 22 year old Matilda Scott (pictured below) of Cleveland will represent the state in both Rural Ambassador and the Merino fleece young judges competition.
“I competed in my first fleece judging competition at the 2016 Campbell Town Show. It was a few months after one of my most influential sheep mentors, Les Triffitt, had passed away and I wanted to enter and compete as a tribute to him and everything he had taught me. I was fortunate to win the event, qualifying me to compete at the 2017 national Merino fleece judging at the Royal Melbourne Show,” Matilda said. 
“A highlight was selecting and entering my first group of three superfine fleeces, and winning against some very worthy exhibits. I also rate quite highly, winning the senior hunter class, riding my sister's horse side-saddle.”
 

20 year old Ashley Meaburn (pictured below) of Runnymede will represent Tasmania in the Merino sheep young judges competition.
“I grew up on a farm and racing stable here in Runnymede. My mothers side of the family are in the thoroughbred racing industry, and my fathers side of the family are Merino sheep farmers that go back generations,” Ashley said. 

VICTORIA

19 year old Erin Douglas (pictured below) from Mornington will represent Victoria in the meat sheep and Merino fleece young judges competition.
“At the age of 12 I started working with my high school’s livestock show team, where I fell in love with wool and sheep. Now, at 18, I co-own over 150 stud Corriedales which we show around Victoria. Throughout 2020, while completing year 12 at home in lockdown, I founded and ran a first-of-its-kind event: the 2020 Rona Youth Sheep Expo. This online expo provided students with the opportunity to make networking connections while ensuring they kept interest in our industry in a show-less time, building knowledge and skill development in order to enhance their careers. Recently I was honoured to be selected as the Youth Ambassador for WoolProducers Australia for 2021-2022. I am also on the newly-formed ASSBA youth committee to encourage the involvement of young members of the sheep industry. For the last few years I have been part of the Victorian Corriedale Youth Committee, and been a part of the events and decisions made.”

22 year old Ben Hartwich of Bullygrogran (Ararat) will compete in the Merino sheep young judges competition. Ben has been on the family farm his whole life and sees himself continuing on as a farmer in 10 years time.
23 year old Tess Runting of Mount Eliza will represent Victoria in the meat sheep and Merino fleece young judges competition.

The Merino sheep and fleece judging competitions are sponsored by Australian Wool Innovation; the competitions are run by Agricultural Shows Australia and hosted by the Royal Agricultural Society of NSW and Queensland Agricultural Shows.
Overall there are nine categories for judging and parading each year under the ASA national championship competition program: beef cattle, dairy cattle, alpaca, poultry, Merino sheep, meat breed sheep and Merino fleece judging, as well as parading competitions in beef and dairy cattle.
Dr. Rob Wilson is chairman of Agricultural Shows Australia, the peak body overseeing 572 agricultural shows in Australia which attract six million visitors annually and contribute nearly $1billion to the national economy, and says the competition is designed to recognise  the best new talent in livestock judging nationwide.
“It’s an extremely prestigious event and positions at the nationals are keenly contested,” Dr. Wilson explains.
“These young people are the future of agricultural show competitions which are crucial to the continual improvement of Australia’s food and fibre. The national competition is a coveted opportunity to grow personally and professionally by practising skills against the cream of the crop.”
Australian Wool Innovation’s Chief Operating Officer John Roberts says AWI is proud to support the competition.
“Australian wool has a bright future so it needs the best and the brightest to stay interested and involved in this great industry, that’s why we are so pleased to back the annual Merino fleece and sheep young judges competitions. And may the best judge win,” Mr Roberts said.
Some of the finalists may be unable to attend the national finals, but Agricultural Shows Australia  wishes to celebrate everyone who qualified.

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For more information about the competition click here  For a timetable of events click here
Agricultural Shows Australia will issue a press release to announce the results as soon as they are scored. Media are welcome to attend the national championships at Sydney Royal Easter Show.