Olivia has got it sorted as she heads off to national title

Oatlands teenager Olivia Baker will join the best young Merino fleece judges in the country having been selected to represent Tasmania at the 2025 National Young Judges Championships at the Royal Adelaide Show from September 1-6.

The championships include young judges’ competitions for Merino sheep and fleece, meat sheep, beef and dairy cattle, grain and poultry plus paraders’ competitions (beef and dairy cattle), the Australian Young Farmers Challenge and National Rural Ambassador Award.

Olivia, who will also try her hand in the meat sheep competition, was surprised to be selected because she was too young to qualify when she won the fleece judging at Campbell Town Show last year, at age 15.

“As it turned out now that I’m old enough I’ve been invited to compete and it’s a bit daunting – but I’ll try my best,” she said.

“I’ve been asking a lot of questions of the wool classers while working in the sheds and studying the wool to understand their choices in preparation for the competition.”

The now 16-year-old, who works for Rigby Shearing, is aiming for a Certificate 4 in wool classing through TAFE by the end of the year.

She was also a participant in the recent week-long shearing and wool handling school at Beaufront, Ross.

However, it’s the practical experience she’s gained helping out her grandfather, Philip Baker, who is stock overseer for Mick and Mandy McMahon on Brambletye at Conara, that has stood her in good stead.

“I’ve been helping Pop since 2021 when it’s shearing time,” Olivia said.

“He organises for me to work as a rouseabout with shearer Robin Flood for the two weeks and, like my mum at this age, it’s something I really enjoy.

“It was mum who encouraged me to take on the free wool classing course this year, and I think that’s what I’d like to do eventually.”

In her last two years at high school, Olivia even made sure she travelled from Oatlands District School to Campbell Town and Cressy District Schools to take part in their agricultural programs to gain more knowledge.

The fleece judging involves sorting four wool samples into order of quality and explaining why they differ.

The meat sheep judging is similar, deciding which is the best based on quality and carcass scores.