During term break Phoebe H (year 12), Madison M and Tahlia P (year 10) along with Mr Singh attended the South Australian Sheep Expo 2023. The SA Sheep Expo offers young people a platform to develop a better understanding of the sheep industry, the opportunities it offers and to encourage the next generation to engage at a grassroots level within the industry. Inspired by the highly successful SA Junior Heifer Expo, the SA Sheep Expo provides an education forum for young sheep enthusiasts aged 12 to 23 years and enable them to build their knowledge and identify pathways to further careers in areas of the sheep industry.

Attending the Sheep Expo involves students staying in shearer quarters at the Royal Adelaide show grounds for the duration of 3 days and 2 nights and participating in range of activities. This year the expo focused on rams of different breed. Students were given opportunity to participate in a range of seminars and workshops on topics such as animal health, nutrition, genetics, and marketing designed around rams. Students were given hands-on experiences, including a young farmers competition and a young judges competition, as well as handling and showing sheep that they are allocated at the start of the expo. There were also chances to watch shearing demonstrations and see what happens to the wool once it has left the farm. The meals and accommodation are completely catered for.

Tahlia and Madison rated their experience as “a valuable learning experience” and something they will do again as this was their first ever sheep expo.

On the other hand, Phoebe H was able to achieve a second place in her intermediate handlers category and also received the Jamestown Show experience scholarship. This scholarship will give Phoebe an opportunity to access behind the scene activities at the Jamestown show, working with organisers, which will allow her to extend her show judging skill even further.

Renmark High School’s Agriculture program is extremely delighted with Phoebe's achievement as she will be able to help and support students intending to prepare and attend this year’s Royal Adelaide Sheep Show in September.

Raj Singh
Agriculture Teacher