Trevor Bassett from Elders Deniliquin (centre) with Deniliquin High students (from left) Abbey Lawson, Brooke Jervis, Darby Watson, Marcus Moorse, Hayden Doncon, Will Edge, Tahlia Johnstone and Jess Hillier.
The annual NSW School Merino Wether Challenge reached new heights this year, attracting nearly 20 new schools to participate in the program.
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Chief among them was our own Deniliquin High School who were competition champions.
Deni High was one of 58 schools competing, and its Year 11 agriculture students were among 500 participating.
“Students embraced all activities and presented the sheep with pride,” the school said.
“It would not have been possible without the organisation of Emily Pearn, Genevieve Dunmore and our driver/supporter Shane Moorse.”
The Year 11 agriculture class has been working on the school’s NSW Schools Merino Wether Challenge entry for the last six months.
Each school is allocated six wethers from the same age drop from Egelabra Merino Stud, purchased by the Dubbo National Ram Sale Association.
The students raise the sheep over the next six months, and bring them to the competition at Dubbo to be judged.
The challenge is coordinated by the Dubbo National Merino Ram Sale Association Inc., with the assistance of the Bralca NSW Stud Merino Breeders’ Association and Australian Wool Innovation.
The annual program aims to provide students and teachers with education and exposure to the Merino industry and associated industries, such as wool classing and broking, shearing, nutrition, sales and meat processing.
It has been running for more than ten years and has grown exponentially since its first year.
“We are looking at encouraging students into the industry and providing schools a resource to add to their agricultural curriculum,” Dubbo National Ram Sale Association deputy chair Angus Beveridge said.
“It was initially about promoting the Merino as a breed, and we continue to evolve with the industry, providing opportunity and further education for the future of the sheep industry as a whole.”
A total of 348 wethers were purchased and distributed to participating schools this year.
Students are responsible for the health and wellbeing of the wethers, adjusting their diet and monitoring their weight gain, and teaching them to lead with the aim of producing a commercially productive animal.
Training days are held throughout the six month challenge to provide ongoing assistance for school staff and students, while also helping to develop industry skills and knowledge.
At the conclusion of the challenge, the sheep are assessed and scored based on the commercial values of their wool and meat, and their estimated five-year earning capability.
The students are also assessed for sheep handling, presentation and knowledge of the industry.
“It really exposes the students to not only the Merino industry but all those associated industries that are crucial to sheep breeding such as shearing, wool handling, nutrition, meat processing and livestock agencies,” Mr Beveridge said.
The investment commitment continues following the conclusion of the program.
The wethers are sold a percentage of the profits from each animal’s carcase and wool value is returned to the school to raise them.
Deniliquin High School has two teams looking after the wethers.
“Team A was first in the western region for their combined value,” Mrs Pearn said.
“The team placed third in the carcase value and took best fleece out of all the schools combined.
“In the overall results, they were awarded best team and then champion school in the state - a wonderful result for Deniliquin High School.
“Along with the judging of the sheep, students participated in workshops teaching them about stock handling, pregnancy scanning, and agriculture careers, and were also to see top quality Merino rams and ewes being judged at the National Merino Sheep Ram and Ewe competition.
“The students were fantastic representatives of Deniliquin High School, and it was great to see them engaging with industry leaders and networking with students from other schools.
“We would like to thank Elders Deniliquin and Rivalea stock feed for their ongoing support and feed donations, and the organisers of the NSW School Merino Wether Challenge.”
Elders Deniliquin representative Trevor Basset said the students had attained “an excellent achievement”.
“We were very happy to offer some livestock advice and look forward to continuing the ongoing relationship next year,” he said.
Deniliquin High School principal Glen Warren also praised the students on their “amazing achievement”.
“It is rewarding for them to be crowned the champion school, and a great opportunity to be in attendance (at Dubbo).”
Pictured with the competition judges are teachers Emily Pearn (far left) and Gen Dunmore (far right), and students (from left) Abby Lawson, Tahlia Johnstone, Darby Watson, Will Edge, Hayden Doncon, Brooke Jervis, Jess Hillier and Marcus Moorse.
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