EIGHT Lucindale Area School students and their Merino sheep will line up at the Royal Adelaide Show next month as they vie for first place in the annual School Wether Competition.
The South East students – in years 9, 10 and 11 – will be up against about 100 others from across the state.
Preparation for the competition began in March when the students selected their sheep and had them delivered to their schools.
Since then, they have had to care for the livestock as part of their agricultural programs.
Lucindale agriculture coordinator Chelsea Dahlenburg said the contest was a great learning experience.
She said it provided the opportunity for young people to become familiar with Merinos, and possibly pursue a career within the industry.
“It provides a good basis to develop skills and knowledge in the sheep industry, particularly the Merino industry,” she said. “Students get the opportunity to develop their knowledge and understanding of sheep and build confidence and skills in handling them.
“It offers a good entry point for students to try, and if they like it they can go further with it.”
The competition aims to practically educate and engage students on the commercial production of Merinos by giving them a hands-on experience that covers a broad scope of sheep and wool production skills.
“Sheep are shorn in March and delivered to the school, at which point the students take responsibility for the livestock,” she said.
“They have to work out a feed ration each week and as we progress towards to the show, they spend more and more time with their sheep.”
Students get the opportunity to develop their knowledge and understanding of sheep and build confidence and skills in handling them.
- CHELSEA DAHLENBURG
Wethers are judged in six segments at the show: best pen of three wethers; three most valued fleeces; best meat value; three most valued skins; highest weight gain by a group; and overall meat and fleece winner.
Competition coordinator Stephen Kellock said support for the event – which started in 2011 – had grown, with 21 entries received the first year, extending to 38 in 2015.
“It’s been going really well,” he said. “The learning the kids are getting from it is very good.”