The association held the event at the Peter Lyon Shearing cook shop in Alexandra last Friday.
NZWCA chairwoman and Central Otago District Council deputy mayor Tracy Paterson opened proceedings by outlining the association’s year.
She said this year’s focus was to be "a consistent voice for reducing wool bale contamination, improving sheep preparation, maintaining the high classing standards and promoting traceability for quality assurance".
Mrs Paterson said the industry was "changing but also full of possibility", pointing to global demand for natural fibres, shifts in government procurement, and manufacturers calling for improved quality and consistency.
The top 2025 completion and top theory student was Ngahuia Wilson, of Gisborne, who was unable to attend. Bonnie Fogarty, of Roxburgh, was among the top students attending the block courses in 2025.
Miss Hood studied agriculture at Lincoln University and is now part of the cadet programme at Zentera, and said the scholarship came as a surprise.
"Everyone is really passionate about everything they do in the industry. What made me love it so much is just how much people care about it all," she said.
She said she would love to get into audit support, working on material quality and helping maintain industry integrity.
Mrs Paterson thanked WRONZ for their continued investment in the programme, saying the scholarships have "helped new entrants enter the industry with confidence and strengthened the long-term pipeline of skilled classers."
South Canterbury farmer Herb Ross, who has farmed merinos and perendales for 27 years and attends every second year, spoke of the quality of the industry, that "length and strength of the wool" is what matters most .
"We’re doing a job a machine can’t — it’s an eye thing and something you keep teaching and learning from," Mr Ross said.
Former NZWCA chairman Martin Paterson, who had spent decades advocating for the integrity and standards of the New Zealand wool industry, spoke about how the association began and why support for it remains vital.
Mr Paterson formerly farmed Matakanui Station, which current chairwoman Tracy Paterson and her husband Andrew took over in 2014.
His cousin Allan Paterson, who has farmed merinos near Ranfurly for over 60 years, said the day was about maintaining integrity in the business.
Bannockburn farm co-manager Lloyd Kirtlan said "the association from what I can see is really doing right by us. But I also understand they can only give as much as they can — it’s just important that we keep the support and funding going for this industry".
The event was hosted by Peter and Elsie Lyon, who donated the venue, food and utilities for the day.
Organiser Marg Ford thanked the pair.
"Their generosity means the world. Things like this just show it’s not about profit for their business, but for everything we’re doing together. Mr and Mrs Lyon have given us a place to walk on, provided the food, utilities here and have just given space the wider wool industry can use."
Mrs Paterson said events like the AGM day serve an ongoing purpose for the industry.
"It’s a tying in of everyone in the industry. We try and fit in classing, wool handling, exercises, industry partnerships, bring it all in and hold it together."
She also pointed to the quality assurance dimension.
"It’s really important to point out how wool classing and having a qualified, registered and current wool classer — what that does to ensure the integrity of what you’re doing on your quality assurance programme. How crucial this is.
"Whether grower, shearer, someone who has worked in the industry forever, as a broker or merchant — in my opinion, we are all in this together."
