Echuca teen representing state on national judging stage

“Young judging provides young people with the opportunity to develop lifelong skills in visually assessing livestock and public speaking through comparing animals against each other,” Agricultural Shows Australia executive officer Katie Stanley said.

“These skills not only develop a better understanding of sheep, they also enable young people to make a valuable contribution to the industry.”

For the Meat Breeds Sheep Young Judges competition, competitors will rank sheep from first to fourth based on multiple characteristics, form and function.

Sheep will be divided into short wool and long wool breed categories, and will be of a similar age, sex and breed.

Animals will be lined up for eight minutes, with competitors ranking them from first to fourth place, delivering an oral rationale.

Ms Stanley explained the importance of judging skills for the purpose of sales and breeding.

“It’s important to be able to identify and understand why certain traits have significant commercial value,” she said.

“Not only animals featuring these qualities will have higher value at sale, but breeders will want to pass these desirable traits on to the next generation to improve the overall flock.

“Generally, young judges compete at a local show first. Winners then go on to compete at their royal show and from there one competitor will be selected to represent each state or territory at the national championship.”

Lexie works on multiple farms around the area, and assisting with shearing and crutching. She is a student at Moama Anglican Grammar and also helps on a dairy farm.

For multiple years, she has competed in the Australian Sheep and Wool Show and has twice been to the dairy cattle judging national finals. In 2023, she placed fourth at the Sydney Royal Easter Show.

“These young people are the future of agricultural show competitions, which are crucial to the continual improvement of Australia’s food and fibre,” Agricultural Shows Australia chairman Rob Wilson said.

The National Meat Breeds Sheep Young Judges Championship will be held at 11am on Tuesday, October 1.