Young shepherds from around the world will converge on Oamaru
next week for the first World Young Shepherds Challenge.
Contestants from France, England, Wales, Northern Ireland,
the Republic of Ireland, Scotland, the United States,
Uruguay, Argentina, Australia and New Zealand will compete in
the event on Tuesday and Wednesday.
New Zealand will be represented by Lincoln University student
Peter Klaassen and Massey University student Hamish Best, who
were selected from students receiving Beef and Lamb New
Zealand scholarships.
The competition, run by Beef and Lamb NZ, aims to foster
professional development in young shepherds aged between 18
and 25, and to build strong relationships between the sheep
production sectors and the next generation of leaders in each
of the countries.
A range of sheep farming skills will be tested, including
putting up a permanent fence, riding a quad bike safely while
navigating an obstacle course, identifying sheep breeds and
their breeding values, drafting and drenching sheep and
accurately counting sheep.
The shepherds will also be tested on their knowledge of sheep
meat cuts and there will also be a shearing challenge, with
each contestant required to shear two sheep.
The top prize is a $15,000 international professional
development scholarship. New Zealand art is also in the prize
pool.
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