A Bordertown local has taken home the top honour at the SA Sheep Expo in her final year of eligibility.
Caitlin Flanagan-Organ, a wool classer and shearing contractor, was awarded the senior champion's trophy on Friday after a long campaign.
First entering the expo in 2017, Caitlin finished second, but since then has been unable to return to try for the top gong due to being plagued with injury.
This year was no different for the industry up-and-comer, who injured her foot just weeks before the expo, but at this was her last year of eligibility, she was determined to get into the sheds at the Adelaide Showground and ultimately claimed the title on Friday.
Originally hailing from a hobby farm in the Barossa, Caitlin didn't have the typical farming start in the sheep industry, instead her first foray was a poddy lamb she raised at the age of five.
She then went on to raise lambs each year as she grew up, but the moment she knew she was destined for the sheds didn't come for another five years.
"I was 10 and my parents took me out of primary school for a day to go see the Australian shearing team in action at a fundraiser for their trip to Norway to the world championships," she said.
"Shannon Warner, Justin Dolphin and John Dalla shore the sheep while Debbie Chandler and Mel Morris were the woolhandlers and they had a catching pen set up for humans to watch the action.
"I sat up on the rails and was looking down over the board watching Justin Dolphin, within a second he pulled a sheep out, he's taken the belly off and then the lights have just gone - I could not see a thing.
"There was a Merino belly hanging straight over me because Justin's thrown it on top of me as I was watching him and in that moment, I really fell in love with the industry."
Fast forward 14 years, Cailtin said her experience at this year's expo was surreal, with one speaker a stand out of the week.
"We had John Dalla here last night (Thursday) and he was there the one day that changed my life," she said.
"To hear his experience as a part of the Australian shearing team was a very special, full circle moment for me.
"But overall, the expo itself was invaluable to me and I feel very lucky to have been able to finally return and go one better than before."
As part of her win, Caitlin was awarded a $4500 study tour to New Zealand which she said would give her the opportunity to broaden her industry experience.
"The wonderful Tess Runting won the expo the year I came second and I was lucky to also be competing against Tess in the national finals for Merino fleece judging at the Melbourne show," she said.
"It was fantastic to hear from her and other winners about their experiences, but a lot of inspiration that I've got for the trip has actually come from people I've worked with who have travelled to or are from NZ."
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Caitlin said the two things on her bucket list for her trip were to experience the fine wool industry and attend the Golden Shears.
"The win and the trip are great, but if I'm able to inspire one person I call that success over winning the award.
"If I can get someone to fall in love with the industry, the same way that I've fallen in love with the industry I've pretty well devoted my life to, that's all that we can ask."
Before she plans her trip to NZ, it's business as usual for Caitlin once she returns to the South East, where she'll head straight back into the shearing sheds.
Katie Jackson
Journalist at Stock Journal. Born into a journo family in the state's South East, Katie made the move to the big smoke to join the team in early 2022 after seven years spent at various mastheads in the regions.
Journalist at Stock Journal. Born into a journo family in the state's South East, Katie made the move to the big smoke to join the team in early 2022 after seven years spent at various mastheads in the regions.
