The best young Merino fleece judges in Australia have been announced by Agricultural Shows Australia, with Somerville's Tiffany Maestrale representing Victoria at the prestigious national finals this September.
The 17-year old's connection to agriculture began with horses on her family's racehorse agistment property and grew stronger through her involvement at school, where she captained the sheep showing team.
Tiffany first got involved with her local show through her school's show team and she now helps out in the sheep section, judging, stewarding, emceeing, and organising ribbons.
This year, she stepped up to help run the sheep section at the Pakenham Show.
Outside the show ring she's also a talented cheerleader who represented Australia at the World Championships in America.
Latest Stories
"I first started competing in the Junior Judging and Handling events in the sheep section at my local shows and that slowly expanded into competing at larger shows and then state finals and national finals," she said.
"My best moment at a show would have to be winning my first ever Junior Handler competition at the Red Hill Show in 2020.
"I'm so excited to have the opportunity to represent my state in the National Championships."
The National Championships are held in a different location each year with South Australian Country Shows hosting the 2025 event at the Royal Adelaide Show from 1-6 September.
The championships also include Young Judges (beef and dairy cattle, grain, Merino sheep and fleece, meat breeds sheep, and poultry), Paraders (beef and dairy cattle), the Australian Young Farmers Challenge and National Rural Ambassador Award.
The National Championships brings together the best of the best in youthful rural talent, community spirit, and industry excellence.
Young judges and paraders aged from 15 to 25 in each state gather to compete in the annual competition.
Qualification is via success in competitive regional and state competitions.
Jacqueline (Jac) Wilson-Smith, Chair of Agricultural Shows Australia - the peak body representing 572 agricultural shows - describes the competition as a celebration of emerging talent in livestock judging across the country.
"This is an incredibly prestigious event, and earning a spot in the nationals is highly sought after," Jac said.
"These young competitors represent the future of agricultural show competitions, which play a vital role in advancing Australia's food and fibre industries.
"The nationals offer an exciting chance for participants to grow both personally and professionally while testing their skills against the very best."
The Merino Sheep Judging final is sponsored by Australian Wool Innovation (AWI), a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to research, development, and marketing across the global supply chain for Australian wool.
Backed by approximately 60,000 woolgrowers who contribute to its funding, AWI works to advance and promote the wool industry.
The Merino Fleece Young Judges will be held at 2.30pm on Thursday 4 September.
