Future industry leaders will get a taste of all things ovine, with the SA Sheep Expo underway at the Adelaide Showground.
Numbers have grown from 64 last year to 90, with entrants coming from throughout SA, as well as NSW and Vic, for the three-day event, from today until Friday.
“We are wanting to grow and this year it has certainly grown,” committee member Peter Button said.
Mr Button said the program rotates each year, with this year’s looking at rams and ram selection, having focused on ewes last year and technology next year.
“We have a combination of hands-on learning and lecture-style, looking at both the sheepmeat and wool industry,” he said.
“Our main aim is to see the future leaders in the sheep industry come through this expo so we can give them a taste of the different areas of the sector.”
Mr Button said the entries had a “good mix” of children from farms as well as those who would be handling sheep for the first time.
Second-time entrant Annie McCarthy, Yalpra Station, Orroroo, said the event gave her a chance to learn more about different parts of the sheep industry.
Annie is from a sheep and cattle operation but said this would give her the opportunity to learn more about new options, such as preparing sheep for showing.