IN THEIR years of competing in the School Merino Wether Competition, Unity College, Murray Bridge, have picked up many tips.
In their latest outing, earlier this month, each of the two teams came home with a ribbon, with one team coming eighth in the three most valuable fleeces - worth $125.10 - with three Kiandra-blood wethers.
The other team came second for the most valuable fleeces - worth $141.94 - and fifth for overall meat and fleece, with a value of $636.94 for the Lucernbrae-blood animals.
The students say the wins came on the back of a lot of work during Friday lunchtimes and agricultural classes.
They even got some extra practice, with the school holding its own show in August, where students had the chance to practice handling, judging and learnt how to display their sheep best before the judges.
RELATED READING: Meningie named wether comp winners
Student Matilda Weckert said they were "very happy" with their results.
"But there is always room for improvement," she said.
Agriculture teacher Jessica Burpee said the year 6 to 12 students were involved in the whole process, right from picking out four wethers at Lucernbrae in early March, with their care part of the year 9 curriculum.
The remainder of the wethers - those that did not compete in Adelaide - were shorn on Monday, in preparation for the newly-announced school's fleece competition in 2021.
- Start the day with all the big news in agriculture. Sign up here to receive our daily Stock Journal newsletter.