A first time participant with a deep passion for the industry has claimed the big prize at the SA Sheep Expo.
Twenty-year-old Alesha Bennett, Wagga Wagga, NSW, was announced as the winner of the award of excellence, with the prize including $4500 towards a study trip to New Zealand.
Ms Bennett had hoped to attend the event in 2023 but had just started a job, so she was excited at the chance to compete this year.
She said the interstate trip was worth it, to get to be around others with a similar passion.
"It's great to meet so many people who are as enthusiastic about sheep as I am," she said.
"There's not much out there for the youth really in the sheep industry so I wanted the opportunity to learn and meet other people who are interested in sheep."
She said the highlights from the event were the chance to make "a fair few friends, which has been amazing", as well as to learn from those established in the industry.
Ms Bennett grew up on a farming background and started her own White Suffolk stud, Kambreli, in 2022.
She has 11 ewes and a ram, as well as some lambs on the ground.
She is also starting a new animal health and nutrition role with Riverina Co-op.
"I'm lucky, I'm 20 years old and I already know sheep is going to be my life," she said.
"I don't know 100 per cent where I'll always be but I know it will involve sheep."
Long-term, she would love to make her stud her career.
"I want to have my name and my stud be mentioned and have them spoken about positively and known as someone who breeds well," she said.
"I also want to encourage the youth and improve the youth support because I love it that much and I think everyone else should love it as well.
"Sheep are something that make me happy, I can talk about them all day."
Ms Bennett said the win came as a surprise, as she had not expected to win in her first year.
She has already started thinking about her trip to NZ.
"I want to see the whole of New Zealand's industry and just see everything they do," she said.
Runner up in the senior age group was Charlotte Cain with Nerissa James in third.
In the intermediate age group, Elsie Johnson came first, with Amelia Frick second and Isabelle Armstrong third.
In the junior classes, Ella Spilling was first, Flynn Beck second and Ryan Philp third.
Among the scholarships on offer, the Heiniger Learner's scholarship went to Jacob Scales, while Ryan Philp and Alisha Carter each won the Jamestown Show Experience scholarship, which includes time spent helping with the running of the ewe hogget competition.
The opportunity to be an assistant sheep breed steward at the Royal Adelaide Show went to Lucinda Smith.
Two work experience scholarships - offered by the Flinders Merino Group and Merino SA - went to Tom Megson and Tailah Lawton.
Emi Hughes and Charlotte Poker have each received a student pass to attend LambEx in Adelaide in August.
The school team challenge trophy went to Naracoorte High School.
In the handlers competition, the junior champion was Jessica Frick, intermediate champion Peita Whitbread and senior champion Sarah Westerholm.
The junior judges junior winner was Ruby Bromage, intermediate Elsie Johnson and senior Charlotte Cain.
Elizabeth Anderson
Editor of Stock Journal.
Editor of Stock Journal.
