Latest news with #WACollegeofAgricultureNarrogin
West Australian
5 days ago
- General
- West Australian
Agricultural Shows Australia: National 2024 junior judge champ Brendan Lamont from Tambellup to compete again
Last year's national junior sheep judge champion will travel from his Tambellup farm to challenge Agricultural Shows Australia finalists in September. Meat sheep breeds judging finalist Brendan Lamont has been selected to represent WA against five State winners at the national championships held at the Royal Adelaide Show on September 5. The annual event is designed to develop judging talent for ages 15 to 25 and build connection with industry professionals to help improve their skills. Mr Lamont said qualifying for the 2025 championship was 'nail-biting' and unexpected as he was against such strong WA candidates, but he is optimistic about the upcoming event. The 24-year-old sky rocketed from local shows to a nationwide level in 2019 when he qualified for the meat sheep breeds national championships in Perth. The championship was delayed until 2022 in Brisbane due to COVID-19, and despite not taking a ribbon he was the only judge who got all the sheep placing correct. In 2024, Mr Lamont donned a blue sash after taking out the merino fleece national division in Melbourne. Mr Lamont said growing up on his family farm embedded a passion for stud sheep, which evolved when his former WA College of Agriculture Narrogin teachers Colin and Ray Batt 'pushed' him into it at 15 years old. The fourth-generation farmer said his best show moment was winning Supreme Breed with his IIe-de-France ewe at Wagin Woolorama in March 2025 when he joined the race against his two mentors. 'Ever since I left college, I wanted to keep being involved in showing sheep, so I started breeding IIe-de-France. The aim was to breed something better than Ray or Colin,' Mr Lamont said. 'So this little 18-month-old ewe, she was the complete package, and she did it for me. 'Ray was very pleased, he said 'yeah, you finally beat me, one of the best'. And Colin was very chuffed because the ewe was mothered by one of his sheep that I bought from him.' Mr Lamont said to prepare for nationals he has been freshening up on all the different breeds, traits and characteristics, plus the standard of sheep desired on a professional judging level.
West Australian
15-07-2025
- General
- West Australian
Kojonup's Libby Hardingham named as national finalist for young merino fleece Judge competition in Adelaide
Kojonup's Libby Hardingham has been selected to represent WA in the race to be Australia's best young merino fleece judge in September. The 17-year-old will compete for the honour against five other finalists from each State at the Royal Adelaide Show on September 4. For ages 15 to 25, the annual young judges competitions are designed to develop judging talent and help young people connect with and learn from industry professionals. Ms Hardingham's interest in the sheep industry started at childhood, which she spent helping out on her grandparents farm before working with stud and commercial sheep on a family friend's farm. The finalist is currently studying a Bachelor of Agricultural Science with the goal to become a livestock vet in the agriculture industry. Ms Hardingham said she credits her success in the young judges competition to her agricultural teacher Colin Batt, when she attended the WA College of Agriculture Narrogin. 'Mr Batt taught me all the things I needed to know about showing sheep, judging wool, merinos and meat breeds,' she said. 'He ran the sheep show team and looked after the school's Suffolk stud. He took them, as well as us students, to as many shows the school would allow him to. 'He ensured we had the necessary skills to make the stud sheep look best on show day and that we gave everything a go, even if we were unsure of our own abilities. 'Batty encouraged me to compete in the young judges competitions at all the shows and he has continued his support even after my graduation. 'If it wasn't for Batty I would not be where I am today, with the skills to pick out the best sheep or fleece in a group and without the networks he has helped me build within the sheep industry.' Other finalists include Olivia Baker, 16, from Tasmania, Miranda McGufficke, 24, (NSW), Queensland's Jaime Colley, 24, Tiffany Maestrale, 17, (Victoria) and Celia Collins (South Australia). Chair of Agricultural Shows Australia Jacqueline Wilson-Smith said the competition was a celebration of emerging national talent. 'These young competitors represent the future of agricultural show competitions, which play a vital role in advancing Australia's food and fibre industries,' Ms Wilson-Smith said. 'The nationals offer an exciting chance for participants to grow both personally and professionally while testing their skills against the very best.'
