Judging the judges: competition title defended

Central Otago Stud Merino Breeders junior judging competition runner-up Sophie Wright, of...
Central Otago Stud Merino Breeders junior judging competition runner-up Sophie Wright, of Earnscleugh, checks the condition of the hoof and leg of a sheep. PHOTOS: ELLA JENKINS
It's two wins in a row for St Bathans builder Archie Calder, after he won the Central Otago Stud Merino Breeders junior judging trophy yesterday.

The junior judging and education day was held at Earnscleugh Station.

Mr Calder — born and bred on a hill-country station — said the station previously had a merino stud and that is what got him into merino farming.

He spent two years at Lincoln University where he got a diploma in agriculture and in farm management, and would go on to complete a building apprenticeship and become a qualified builder.

After the win in Earnscleugh, he and runner-up Sophie Wright, of Earnscleugh, will represent Central Otago at the New Zealand final held at the Wanaka A&P Show in March.

The winner of the show there will go on to visit merino studs in Australia.

"Hopefully, [I’ll] do a bit better this year and win that," he said.

Earnscleugh Station owner Alistair Campbell explains to the junior judges how to inspect and...
Earnscleugh Station owner Alistair Campbell explains to the junior judges how to inspect and judge sheep.
He hoped one day to end up working at a merino station somewhere.

"Yeah, just love the sheep and love everything about them," Mr Calder said.

Central Otago Stud Merino Breeders Association president William Jones said the idea of the junior judging was educational.

He said the breeders association wanted young people coming into the industry aware of what to look for in a good quality animal.

"We’re just encouraging all these young ... people to come along, learn, ask questions, not be intimidated by ... judging sheep, looking at sheep, and then ... being able to have a good, confident opinion about sheep," Mr Jones said.

Before the judging, the young judges were taught what to look for in a sheep and how to identify good or poor-quality animals.

The judges then went on to inspect and rate four randomly selected sheep and rank them from first to fourth.

By Ella Jenkins