When Fiona Walker found out she had been selected as a judge for the world shearing and woolhandling championships, she "did a jig" at the mailbox.
Miss Walker, originally from a farm at Owaka and now living in Invercargill, joins Janet Smith, from Becks in Central Otago, as the two South Island woolhandling judges. Ken Payne, from Balclutha, is one of the shearing judges.
This year's championships are being held in conjunction with the Golden Shears in Masterton from February 29 to March 3.
Miss Walker and Mrs Smith were both busy yesterday at the annual Otago shearing and New Zealand woolhandling championships in Balclutha.
Miss Walker was both surprised and delighted to be selected, saying she did not think she had a chance, given the calibre of the people involved.
"I had a smile on my face for a week. I felt very, very honoured," she said.
She started helping in the shearing shed on the farm when she was a child. She started judging when she was in her early 20s.
A good judge was someone who was consistent, fair and knew what they were doing. They had to be very precise and also make decisions and then stick to them, she said.
The industry had given her a lot and she enjoyed the opportunity to give something back to it. While she had several attempts at competing, she preferred judging.
It is a family affair as her father, Bruce Walker, is president of the Otago shearing and New Zealand woolhandling championships. He has been shearing for nearly four decades and managed the New Zealand shearing team on its UK tour last year.
Mrs Smith, who is a wool representative for Elders Primary Wool in Central Otago, also felt very honoured to have been selected to officiate at the world championships.
"It was really cool. I couldn't believe it," she said.
She has been judging for about 10 years and has travelled to Australia twice. She has a passion for wool and enjoyed the people that she met at competitions.
The shearing and woolhandling championships continue in Balclutha today.
Entries were up as it was the last round of the circuit to select the New Zealand representatives to compete at the world championships.