The junior judging competition at the Bathurst Merino Association Bathurst Ram Expo featured commercial woolgrowers explaining the techniques they have used to keep their businesses afloat in challenging economic times.

Organiser Steve Jessett said the aim of the competition was to “engage young people in the wool industry”.

“This has come about as a recognition of the declining numbers of young people choosing agriculture as their career,” he said. 

“The competition has been developed over years to encompass the primary concern of agriculture - to return a profit - and this has remained one of the key talking points for our junior merino judges.”

Four industry specialists ran presentations on their areas of expertise in the wool industry and then the young people were asked to apply this knowledge to judge a group of merino and pick the most profitable animal. 

“A highlight of this year's competition was the calibre of the presenters who attended from around the state with a lifetime of knowledge to share with the young people in attendance,” Mr Jessett said.

Those presenters were Ben Patrick, manager of one of the leading studs in NSW, Yarrawonga Merino Stud; fifth-generation woolgrower Chris Croker, “Ayrston”, Taralga; fourth-generation woolgrower Michael Lowe, “Innisvale”, Crookwell; and Australian Agricultural Training CEO John Dwyer, Bathurst, who has taught wool-classing to generations of woolgrowers across NSW. 

In the senior division, Cameron Trengove was first, Hannah Messner second and Hugh Croker third.

In the junior division, James Dawson was first, Letitia Milne second and Bill McDonnell third.