Tasmanian teens make their mark at sheep and fleece judging competitions

Olivia Baker and Jock Johnson have added to Tasmania’s success at the Royal Adelaide Show in the national young Merino sheep and fleece judges’ contests.

Jock finished second in the sheep judges’ competition, while 16-year-old Olivia went one better and took out the top prize in the fleece section.

Olivia said it felt amazing to be crowned the best in Australia.

“It means so much; it just gives me more opportunities in life,” she said.

“I’m doing wool classing at the moment and handling wool every day; that and my training really helped me.

"I have always loved being on the farm with my grandfather and learning from him.

“He has been a huge inspiration to me, and I will be forever grateful for his knowledge and what he has passed on to me."

The Oatlands teenager is currently working in shearing sheds while completing a Cert 4 Wool Classing at TAFE.

And while Victoria’s Tiffany Maestrale beat him in the young Merino sheep judges’ section, Jock said he was thrilled to finish in second – admitting he was not expecting to place.

“I live on a sheep farm at Longford, so I just had my dad and a couple of mates that helped me with practising judging livestock,” he said.

“I’m in my final year of school, and next year I’m hoping to go to the Northern Territory and find a station to work at for 10 months or so.”