QUEENSLAND’S problem-solving agricultural students can win up $5000 in prizemoney in the Leading Sheep’s inaugural Sheep and Wool Challenge.

The state’s Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries and Minister for Rural Economic Development Bill Byrne said the sheep and wool challenge is offering significant prize money for students who can come up with an innovative solution to an industry issue.

The innovations are to be submitted in the form of a short on-line video and will be eligible to share in a prize pool of $10,000 for winning entries.

“Young people are the future of the industry, and their ideas are what will continue to build sheep and wool enterprises in Queensland,” Mr Byrne said.

Entries can be submitted until July 31, 2017 and there’s a prize pool of $10,000 for the winning entries.

Department of Agriculture and Fisheries Leading Sheep senior extension officer Nicole Sallur said there are sections for secondary school students, where prize money is split between the school and the student, and an Open Category for over 18’s, including those at college and tertiary students.

Challenge prize breakdown

Secondary School Category (under 18 years of age):

1st prize – $1000 ($500 for the school and $500 for the entrant)

2nd prize – $500 ($250 for the school and $250 for the entrant)

Open Category (over 18 years of age):

1st prize — $5000

2nd prize — $3000

There is also a people’s choice award with a purse of $500. For inspiration, Ms Sallur suggested potential entrants go on-line and explore the industry by isiting www.leadingsheep.com.au (external site). Other handy websites are www.daf.qld.gov.au, www.wool.com.au (external site) and www.agforceqld.org.au (external site).

A full list of competition terms and conditions, and how to lodge your entry, is available on-line at http://www.leadingsheep.com.au/2016/11/sheep-and-wool-challenge-competition-2017/.

Queensland’s sheep and wool industry is worth $132 million to the economy. Leading Sheep is an initiative of Australian Wool Innovation and the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, with support from AgForce.

Source: Qld Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries and Minister for Rural Economic Development.