SA's Lachlan Grossman, Angaston, has taken out the national meat sheep young judges competition held at the Royal Adelaide Show against the country's state champion judges, after he wowed the judges with his extensive stud sheep knowledge.
The twenty-two-year-old gained his skills of accessing stud rams as manager of the family's Border Leicester stud, Kooawarra.
Mr Grossman said he was excited to have won the national title but was very surprised because of the “very tough competition.”
“The type of sheep we judged made the competition really enjoyable. They were such good quality and made it quite easy to pick out the best traits,” he said.
“I looked for a really even ram with good cover and strong feet.
“The national competition did have extra pressure because of the other contestants and crowd watching on but it made me a better judge on the day.”
Mr Grossman said he would continue to judge at competitions and hoped to forge a long career in meat sheep judging.
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Runner up to Mr Grossman was Tenneal Prebble, Gatton, NSW, who managed to be the better judge on the day ahead of Ash Purcell, Frankston, Vic, who came third.
They were placed ahead of Katelyn Grimmett, Woodenbong, NSW, Tiffany Barton, Hobart, Tas, James Batterbee, Wandering, WA, and Scott Maultsaid, Wairoal, New Zealand.
Overjudge Ros Funke, Bundara Downs, Western Flat, said Mr Grossman was a calm judge who had exceptional sheep handling skills.
“His approach with the sheep was great and that is why he compared the sheep so well,” she said.