MID NORTH sheep producer John Faint has managed to have the best of both worlds - turning his daily job into a much-loved hobby.
While sheep and wool are major profit-drivers, from the late 1970s, breeding the best wool has been a labour of love for John, stemming from his enjoyment of the show ring.
He has since collected more than 450 ribbons and trophies for his wools - including some Royal Adelaide Show champion prizes - which are displayed in his 160-year-old former stables.
The fifth generation to farm at his family's Waterloo property, alongside wife Heather - initially in partnership with brother Peter and then with son and daughter-in-law Justin and Kirby - his interest has always been livestock, particularly sheep.
"From when I could remember, I always had a pet lamb," he said.
He began shearing at the age of 18 and said when he started, shearing 100 sheep netted him $17.
John initially started showing wool at the local Saddleworth Show.
After some success he widened his scope to take in six neighbouring country shows in the Northern Areas Show Society, winning the aggregate for the wool section on many occasions.
Champion country fleeces are eligible to compete in the state country shows' wool competition at the Royal Adelaide Show, leading him to pick up the state country shows champion wether fleece 13 times - something he considers an "honour".
"Wool showing became a hobby for me and as I was a shearer, was able to select show fleeces from the floor," he said.
"We've always been commercial woolgrowers and proved with good selection and nutrition, one can do well at wool shows against stud breeders."
At end of each showing season he would always donate the fleeces to the Royal Flying Doctor Service.
In recent years, John has stepped back from showing and also hung up his handpiece - apart from 100 sheep earlier this year.
But almost 40 years of showing has had its impact on their flock.
"I did get a lot of joy out of it and learnt a lot about wool," he said.
"I encourage other commercial woolgrowers to do it to learn about wool and improving your flock.
"You look at other people's wool and listen to the judge's comments.
"They're looking for length and lock so you learn to select sheep that has all the characteristics."
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John believes some elements of ram and sheep selection come about through experience but others "you do have to be born with it a bit".
When selecting a ram, he pays little attention to figures, such as micron, calling them a "guide" only and starts by standing behind a sheep.
"Are they well-covered, that's my starting process," he said.
"I will then open the wool and look at the quality.
"It's the same when classing sheep here, I put them in a race and walk behind them."
While he believes genetics is important - they have used Moorundie Park rams for more than 20 years - he lives by the old adage "feeding is more than half the breeding".
John said they made more profit from understocking their farm slightly.
Two years ago he and Heather handed the farm on to Justin and Kirby and have "retired" to Kapunda, but he still makes the almost daily trip back to the farm to look after the sheep.
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