Young sheep and wool industry enthusiasts with their mentors and organisers at the Wyvern Station weekend.

YOUNG wool growers and sheep industry professionals were provided with lifelong mentors and networks at a training and mentoring weekend this month.

The 50,000 hectare Wyvern Station at Carrathool, in the Riverina, hosted workshops and mentoring sessions on February 9-10 in a joint initiative with the Peter Westblade Scholarship committee.

About 30 participants attended from all over New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia.

Topics covered over the weekend included sheep selection, stockmanship, agribusiness skills, sheep and wool marketing, and new technologies in agriculture and professional development.

Interactive workshops enabled sessions to be tailored to the participant’s interest and knowledge.

Select group encouraged to pursue scholarship

Talking ram selection at Wyvern Station.

A select group from the Wyvern weekend will be encouraged to pursue the 2019 Peter Westblade Scholarship.

The scholarship provides education and mentoring opportunities over a 12-month period for young people aged 18 to 30 years wanting a career in the Australian sheep and wool industry.

Peter Westblade Scholarship chairman Craig Wilson said the committee was dedicated to delivering practical skills associated with the industry.

“This would not be possible without the generous ongoing support of TA Field Estates Pty Ltd, which donated the state of the art facilities at Wyvern Station to hold the event.

“Hay Incorporated ran a rural education program for 15 students for five days in the lead up to the PWS training weekend,” Mr Wilson said.

“The weekend would not have been possible without the generous support of Moses and Son, Craig Wilson and Associates, Sally Martin Consulting, Fox and Lillie, Fletchers International, Paraway, Yarrawonga Merino Stud, Pastora Poll Merinos, McGuiness Farms, Woodpark Poll Merino stud, Cannon Grazing, Pleyna Poll Merino stud, TA Field Estates and Landmark.

“The young people attending the weekend were impressive, super keen to educate themselves and make the most of the fantastic group of speakers leading the sessions,” he said.

“The network built from a weekend like this will provide the attendees with a group of mentors lasting their career.

“The PWS committee is already planning the Wyvern training and mentoring weekend for 2020.”