The popularity of the Beef and Lamb New Zealand Sheep Industry Awards has grown enormously in its second year, its organisers say.
Beef and Lamb New Zealand Southern South Island extension manager Paul McCauley said nominations for the awards had doubled this year.
The finalists had been chosen and were selected from 70 nominations across categories which were designed to feature the best of genetics, production, and business innovation.
And between 200 and 300 people had indicated their intention of attending the awards evening, he said.
Most of the nominations had come from New Zealand's traditional sheep farming areas and regions where sheep farming was still prevalent, Mr McCauley said.
Sheep breeders nominated for the Genetic Trait Awards had to have their data recorded on Sheep Improvement Ltd's Advanced Central Evaluation genetic information data base, which provided a ''robust mathematical analysis'' for judges, Mr McCauley said.