TOP SIRE 2025–2026 NSW PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE the young judges competition at the Holbrook Sheep and Wool Fair as well as the Southern Tablelands Flock Ewe Championship. We provided bursaries to four SMBA representatives in the NSW Merino Sheep Young Judges competition to assist with travel to compete at Sydney and sponsored the Rotary Youth in Ag Sheep Camp at Walcha. We have also contributed to scholarships for two CSU students, Olivia Hinkley and Amelia McCrabb, and an RAS Scholarship, which also went to Amelia McCrabb. We must continue to do what we can to bring young people into contact with the industry in the hope that they too will find a passion for it and be a part of its future. An innovative move by the NSW SMBA Trust has been its sponsorship of Down the Track, a program that is helping at risk young people to upskill through positive activities, education and training. Whilst the Association’s future will rely on engaging young Merino breeders, it cannot be forgotten that the Association has been built on the significant commitment and endeavours of the many stud breeders that have contributed to the Association up to now and who continue to offer wise counsel and staunch patronage. Max Rayner is a strong case in point. A NSW SMBA Councillor since 1991, Max stood down as a NSW SMBA Director at the April 2025 AGM and Board Meeting and the board did not hesitate to award him a well deserved Life Governorship. Thank you Max – your steadfast support and dedication to the Association is an example to all. I would also like to highlight that the Association has been financially supportive of some other worthy industry activities that we believe are compatible with our own operational agenda. These include the Central Western PA&H Association Merino Ewe Competition, the Southern Tablelands Flock Ewe Championship, the inaugural Castlereagh Maiden Ewe Competition, the WoTL Thriving Women Conference to be held in August 2025 and the Keep the Sheep campaign. We will continue to provide support, where possible, to organisations and activities that are consistent with our own function. In fulfilling our objectives, the Association greatly values the backing that we receive from a number of companies and I wish to acknowledge and commend: • XytoVet – our Gold Sponsor for the second year running; • Zoetis – continuing as our long-term Silver Sponsor; • Datamars – joining us in 2025 as a Silver Sponsor; and • StockLive – joining us in 2025 as a Bronze Sponsor. Additionally, Shearwell have invited us to be a part of their Breed Society Support Program, which provides the NSW SMBA with a rebate for any Shearwell tags purchased by our members. We encourage you to let them know you are a member when placing an order to benefit the Association. We must also thank AWI for their financial support of our Genomic Flock Profiling workshop held at the National Merino Show in August 2024. Lastly, I would like to gratefully acknowledge AWN, Elders and Nutrien for their support of the NSW SMBA through their cooperative sponsorship of the 2025 NSW Merino Calendar. No doubt individually as breeders and as an Association we have another interesting year ahead of us that will produce the usual mix of highlights and challenges. I am grateful that I will be working with an insightful and pragmatic board as we navigate our way through 2025–2026 and that we have a judicious executive team in Malcolm Cox, Russell Jones and Tony Gall to keep us on track. I strongly encourage all stud breeders to contact your chosen councillor if you have any opportunities or concerns that you think need to be considered by the Association. The Association is also very fortunate to have the highly professional and organised Rebecca Cooper in the role of Executive Officer – thank you Rebecca for keeping the show on the road. Thank you also to Jules Barron and Karina Merriman who ably assist Rebecca with the mighty task of pulling everything together to create the Top Sire – you do a terrific job. I would also like to acknowledge the dedication of the committee chaired by James Derrick that oversees the affairs of the NSW SMBA Trust – your conscientious management of the Trust does not go unnoticed. As I inch my way into the requirements of the role, I must express my admiration for Hamish McLaren at the end of his three years as the Association’s President. You were considered and intuitive in your thinking, handled every situation with good humour and composure, while your focus on achieving results for the Association and the Merino industry never wavered. On behalf of the membership, I thank you for your exemplary leadership and dedication. I also remind you that you were instrumental in getting me into this, so answer your phone! Despite some apprehension as to what the next three years will bring, I am eager to see what we can achieve for stud Merino breeders and the Merino industry at large. This is an industry that I have enjoyed being part of for most of my career and it is important to me. I am mindful of the honour of being elected President of the NSW SMBA and the privilege of working with the people that make up this Association. I sincerely hope that 2025–2026 produces favourable seasonal and market conditions for all and I wish all the NSW stud Merino breeders a successful 2025–2026 selling season. Best regards, Justin Campbell NSW SMBA President – 4 –
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