Campbell Town rises to Merino wether challenge

Campbell Town District High School is celebrating its first overall win in the Tasmanian Merino Wether Challenge which was judged yesterday in the new Shearing and Wool Handling Centre of Excellence at Campbell Town.

Students have been meticulously weighing, feeding and caring for six wethers from local property Avoca Farm since late April and the sheep were in prime condition for judging, just pipping Scottsdale for top honours.

All up there were 15 school participating in the Challenge, which was established by Australian Wool Innovation (AWI) in partnership with the Stud Merino Breeders Association of Tasmania.

Having been involved since the first Challenge four years ago, the school has always performed well but having all the wethers from the same flock ensured a level playing field and it appears to have made a difference this year, with their flock judging well across all categories, particularly in the fleece judging.

The school took home a winner’s cheque of $500 and another $500 for the fleece plus a swag of ribbons.

Acting principal David Bryant said that the Wether Challenge provides an authentic learning opportunity for students and opens their eyes to a variety of future employment opportunities in agriculture. 

“Our success this year is a testament to the hard work and passion from participating students as well as the staff who have supported them,” he said.

“Through this challenge, students were able to see the ways in which all areas of learning at school are relevant to our local primary industries - including science, biology and mathematics and that modern livestock and fibre farming is a complex business requiring high levels of knowledge and skill.”

As a new Principal in a rural school, Mr Bryant recalled the surprise of seeing six sheep being led inside and outside the classroom as team members trained their woolly charges.

“I soon came to understand the importance of this challenge to our school community. The joy on the faces of our younger students as the sheep interrupted their morning reading or maths sessions, and sometimes left organic deposits behind too, was also quite special,” he laughed.

Ag teacher Jill Bennet said that as well as caring for the wethers in the lead-up to judging, students participated in learning and challenge tasks which saw them measuring the wool for length, dust, micron and colour. 

“Our wethers were judged on the quality of their wool, the condition of their carcass and their general presentation. Students were able to confidently answer questions from the judges regarding their care for the wethers and general matters related to animal husbandry,” she said.

“We have appreciated the support of many with this year’s wether challenge and particularly want to acknowledge Mel Morris (Elders) for helping teach us about wool handling, Georgina Wallace (Trefusis) for her tips on preparing the sheep and tipping the horns and the families from Kennilworth, Riccarton and Winton for their kind donations of grain and hay.”