NSW School Merino Wether Challenge
A group of 9 Agriculture students from Year 9 recently completed the NSW School Merino Wether Challenge with some excellent results achieved.
The challenge is a state-wide competition with the aim to educate high school students about the commercial production of Merino sheep. Each of the 69 selected schools were allocated 6 wethers for six months, with the students taking ownership for managing their wethers. This includes everything from managing nutrition and halter breaking to crutching, foot trimming, weighing and the selection of wethers into Teams A & B based on fleece and carcase attributes. Students have been completing all of this before school and during their lunchtime over the last 2 terms and have thrived on the responsibility of the task.
Last week the team returned their wethers to the Dubbo National Merino Ram Show along with the other 68 schools and more than 400 animals, where they were judged according to their meat and wool quality. Along with exhibiting their animals for the judges, students were also able to participate in a range of activities including shearing demonstrations, ag tech workshops, working dog demonstrations, fleece workshops, a careers panel and a young farmers challenge.
All of the students’ hard work also paid off in the judging, achieving the following results:
- 3rd place overall out of 138 teams for combined wool and carcase value
- 1st and 2nd place for carcase value in Zone 2
- 1st place for combined wool and carcase value in Zone 2
- 1st place for restocker value in Zone 2
Most impressively, the students received a Student Engagement Award for teamwork, knowledge, professionalism and presentation. The students were exceptional ambassadors for the college and had a great time doing it. Well done to the team.
Mr Alister Meek, Agriculture / Primary Industries Teacher
