“The objective of the competition was firstly to promote the quality of Boorowa and the district’s sheep. Secondly and most importantly the competition is a forum where ideas are exchanged on sheep breeding by judges, exhibitors and other woolgrowers.” – Chief Steward Dan Carey.
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The annual Boorowa Flock Ewe competition will be held again on Friday, February 16 2018.
As in previous years, it is held in conjunction with the Boorowa Show Society.
The idea of the competition is to judge the entrants’ flocks on farm, then the top five placegetters bring their best ten ewes to the show on Saturday, March 3, where the winner will be announced.
The first two placegetters from the Winter/Spring shorn section of the competition showing no more than two teeth become eligible for the Regional Southern Tablelands Flock Ewe Championships which is to be held on Friday, March 16 starting at Taralga, then onto Crookwell, Boorowa and finishing in Gunning.
This year is the first time the Boorowa Flock Ewe Competition rules have changed after the 2017 show and the Flock Ewe Committee and the Show Society held a meeting for the Flock Ewe participants current and potential.
The idea was to give more clarity and understanding for all involved.
Originally it was a Maiden Ewe Competition showing no more than two teeth.
As management practices change we are seeing more woolgrowers moving the lambing forward into Winter or even earlier into Autumn with this we have seen more flocks showing four teeth.
So it was agreed upon that all participants nominate there date of lambing:
Class A: Autum/Winter – Date of Lambing
Class B: Winter/Spring – Date of Lambing
All Flocks will be judged on the same criteria as in the past years, the judge’s decision will be final.
Flocks showing four teeth are now accepted and are eligible to win the Boorowa Flock Ewe Competition, in saying this the Regional Southern Tablelands Competition still only accepts Maiden Ewes with no more than two teeth.
This year there are 10 teams entered which is fantastic.
The judges this year are Mr Tony Inder of “Allendale” Wellington and Mr Hamish Maclaren of the “Nerstane Merino Stud” from Woolbrook in the New England area.
Tony is very passionate about making money from a commercially focused Merino operation.
The Inder family run a large scale commercial merino flock across a number of properties. Tony also has a small Merino Stud.
Hamish and his family run a very large enterprise of Merino sheep and cattle.
Nerstane is one of Australia’s leading parent fine wool studs.
The Flock Ewe Committee is very excited to have such a high standard of judges, with a proven track record and superior knowledge of the wool growing industry for this year’s competition.
The industry at the moment is on a high, with a lot confidence and focus back onto merinos, many wool growers have received high wool prices in the past 12 months which brings a lot of optimism, so the timing is perfect.
This is a great day for anyone thinking about coming along.
All you have to do is hop on the courtesy bus or drive yourself, visiting all the entrants’ properties and viewing their outstanding Merino flocks.
It is all about finding the best sheep on the day, but it is also a great day of social interaction, an opportunity to meet new faces and learn from the judge’s comments.
Industry reps and sponsors will also be in attendance so it is a great opportunity to interact with them in a social setting.
The day is set to be a big one, lunch out in the field, along with the air conditioned courtesy bus having an on board toilet.
The bus will depart from the Corkhill’s Ag Services at 7am sharp on Friday, February 16.
There will be a BBQ lunch at approximately 12.30pm, before the buses head off again for the afternoon judging.
Buses will return at approximately 5.30pm.
All spectators are welcome to take advantage of the courtesy bus and are welcome to hop on and off where possible.
There will be presentations and dinner at the Courthouse Hotel from 7pm, where the top five placegetters will be announced.
We are celebrating 30 years and very proud.
The committee would like to thank our major sponsors ANZ Banking, Corkhill’s Ag Services Boorowa, Bromar Engineering, Diamond Shearing Boorowa and the Courthouse Hotel Boorowa.
Stay tuned for more photos from the day!
