The Victorian School Merino Wether Challenge was launched in March this year, with 11 schools being given six young sheep which were placed into the care of students — who then showcased them on Wednesday, August 28 at Clunes.
The grand champion prize was won by GSSC for a combined score from competing for best carcase value, length and quality of wool, highest value fleece, highest value carcase, best presentation and most engaged school.
Sheep tag company Shearwell was the sponsor of the prize.
GSSC agriculture teacher Charlotte Drinnan praised the teams from at least two other schools.
“There was a lot of stiff competition, particularly from Ballarat Grammar School and Goroke P-12 from the Wimmera where they have got a very good ag teacher,” Ms Drinnan said.
“And now the kids are back here at school, they are really pumped; they are over the moon, I’m over the moon.”
The challenge was run by the Australian Sheep Breeders Association and Australian Wool Innovation, and marked a significant milestone in secondary agricultural education in Victoria.
The challenge has already thrived in all other states with some having up to 69 schools competing.
Over the past six months, participating schools have meticulously cared for the six wethers and provided them with a hands-on experience in sheep management.
The program gave students insights into the sheep and wool sector and students demonstrated their knowledge and skills through various activities, including ultrasound scanning to determine carcase characteristics and optical fibre diameter analysis to assess wool quality.
Wool harvesting at the event was conducted by the highly-talented Victorian Shearing Contractors Association of Australia’s wool-handling ambassadors for 2024.
Australian Sheep Breeders Association sub-committee for Victoria chair Alan Harris said the event had been several years in the making.
“It was a process to get it up and going; it’s taken time to get sheep and the AWI was integral in that, and of course contacting the schools,“ Mr Harris said.
“We want to get Merino sheep and wool into the schools. I think ag in the schools is lacking so much and this program was a bit of reality compared to the city programs.”
Mr Harris said he was confident that the challenge would grow in the future.
“We were the last state to come online behind Queensland and Tasmania, but it was pretty good for a kick-off.
“Some schools were sitting back and seeing how it went, but already we have had interest from other schools for next year.”
Ms Drinnan said the students had delivered on the two secrets to the team’s success.
“The secret is diligence and giving attention to detail,” she said.
“Teach the students that you’ve got to be looking for any of the sheep who are not hungry or feeling a bit off or unhappy animals and then monitoring their feed.”
Having set the bar so high in the event’s first year, Ms Drinnan said 2025 looked promising with some ‘particularly enthusiastic’ students currently in Year 9.
“And enrolments are looking good too.”
The experience is already paying off vocationally.
“One of the students has asked me to get some work experience for her on farms so that’s literally straight out there into the workforce,” Ms Drinnan said.
The students now look forward to showing the local community their skills in handling Boer goats and dairy cattle at the upcoming Shepparton Show.
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