TOP SIRE 2025–2026 NSW SHOW AND SALE RESULTS SCHOOL WETHER CHALLENGE 2024 Overall Winner St Matthews Catholic School, Mudgee 2024 Encouragement Award Boggabilla Central School Condobolin High School A record-breaking 690 students from 69 schools across the state gathered in Dubbo for the 2024 NSW School Merino Wether Challenge. Students from as far as Lightning Ridge and Murwillumbah travelled to the Rabobank National Merino Show at the Dubbo Showgrounds with their teams of wethers, which they’d been preparing for six months prior to the competition. The show marked the conclusion of the challenge with sheep assessed and scored based on the commercial values of their wool and meat as well as their estimated five-year earning ability. Students were also assessed on their sheep handling skills, presentation and knowledge of the industry. St Matthews Catholic School, Mudgee, came out on top as overall champions with Boggabilla Central School and Condobolin High School earning Encouragement Awards for their efforts. In the wool value component, West Wyalong High School claimed first place, while Deniliquin High School took home the first place ribbon in the carcase value section. Bundarra Central School claimed first place in the restocker value category. Peel High School received the Best Presented School award, while the prize for Well-Mannered School was awarded to Lightning Ridge Central School. The challenge continues in 2025, where it is set to break the previous record with more than 75 schools engaged in the program. This year’s challenge is coordinated by the Dubbo National Merino Ram Sale Association and Australian Wool Innovation (AWI), who purchased over 450 Merino wether lambs and allocated them to participating schools in March. One of the coordinators of the program, Cam Munro, Egelabra, Warren, said the event offered students the opportunity to see the diverse range of career options available in the wool industry. “The most pleasing thing is to see schools that are here for the second time and how quickly they improve on the results from their first year,” he said. AWI Grower Services Project Manager, Tom Hersee, said AWI supported practical hands-on skill development initiatives, such as the NSW School Wether Challenge, as part of their commitment to fostering the next generation of wool industry professionals. “AWI’s national program spans every wool growing state and reaches over 1500 students, not only giving students practical and hands-on experience with Merino sheep but also opening doors to careers in agriculture by connecting them with industry leaders and real-world learning opportunities,” he said. “The growing participation in this event highlights its value in shaping the future of Australia’s wool industry.” Supported by Fletcher International Exports, students are able to further their understanding of the meat and wool value chains as part of the program. Students have the chance to hear from industry specialists across the meat and wool supply chains who talk with schools about the commercial relevance of products. For the first time this year, scanning for fat depth and eye muscle will be included in the sheep assessments, further exposing students to technologies commonly used in the industry. Photo captions. 1– Students from Bundarra Central School in the Northern Tablelands region during the 2024 NSW School Merino Wether Challenge. 2– Cam Munro, Egelabra, Warren, giving a talk to students during the 2024 event. 3– Preparing wethers for the judging mat. 4– Shearing wethers onsite at the 2024 event. 5– Students from 69 schools across NSW gathered on the judging mat with their teams of wethers during the competition. Photos: Rachael Lenehan. 1– 3– 4– 5– 2– – 74 –
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTI3ODI1