More students learning sheep management skills

School Merino wether competitions are under way in all six states across the country with their aim to educate high school students about the commercial production of Merino sheep. The competitions provide the students with a memorable ‘hands on’ learning experience covering a broad range of sheep and wool production skills. 

There are more than 160 schools across the country involved in the AWI-supported initiative this year.  

Each school team looks after several wethers from studs in their state for about six months, with the students forming a close relationship with their wethers. This provides a unique and practical experience for the students, much different from classroom learning. Each school team then shows their wethers during a competition later in the year and are judged according to their meat and wool quality. 

There are 76 schools from across NSW participating in this year’s School Merino Wether Challenge. Pictured are West Wyalong High School’s Stage 5 Agriculture students weighing the six wethers they have been allocated; the students weigh the sheep each week to keep track of their progress. 

There are 41 schools from across South Australia participating in this year’s School Merino Wether Competition. Pictured are secondary school students at Balaklava High School where students from Years 7 to 12 are using the wethers as an opportunity to improve their practical sheep management skills. 

There are 14 schools from across Victoria participating in this year’s School Merino Wether Challenge, an increase from the 11 that participated in the state’s inaugural competition last year. Pictured are secondary school students at Manangatang P-12 College in the Mallee region of Victoria with their six wethers. 

A special set of learning resources has been made available on AWI’s Learn About Wool website to help teachers deliver an engaging and educational 10-week program about sheep and wool production to their students. The program is ideal for those taking part in the Merino wether competitions and it has been very well received by ag teachers. 

The Merino wether competitions were initiated 15 years ago in South Australia by the SA Stud Merino Sheepbreeders Association (Merino SA), with similar competitions having since been introduced in New South Wales and Western Australia during the past decade. Following the success of these three initiatives, students in Tasmania and Queensland held their first state competitions in 2023, and students in Victoria held their first state competition in 2024. 

All the competitions are supported by AWI, as well as Stud Merino Breeders Associations, individual studs, schools, teachers and students. 

“AWI continues to support the annual School Merino Wether Challenges as part of the company’s commitment to fostering the next generation of wool industry professionals,” said AWI Grower Services Manager, Tom Hersee. 

“The program spans every state and reaches more than 3,000 students, not only giving students practical, hands-on experience with Merino sheep but also opening doors for them to careers in Australia’s wool industry. The growing participation in the AWI-supported initiative highlights its value in helping shape the positive future of wool-growing in Australia.” 

More information: www.wool.com/school-comps

This article appeared in the Winter 2025 edition of AWI’s Beyond the Bale magazine that was published in June 2025. Reproduction of the article is encouraged.