Planket pot inventor Sherri Symons has been a consistent performer in the Sheepvention inventions competition.

HAMILTON Sheepvention Rural Expo organisers are expecting an optimistic crowd at the event this year with strong sheep meat and wool prices, record crop yields last year, all underpinned by a good season.

“I think farmers are going to have a lot more spring in their steps this year with a pretty much opposite season to last year,” Hamilton Pastoral and Agricultural Society president Darren Schurmann said.

“I think overall the mood should be a lot more buoyant.”

Mr Schurmann said the Hamilton Showgrounds is fully booked out with industry-focussed trade exhibits. He did not expect the former ram sale to return to the event because of the trend to on-property sales.

Hamilton P&A Society business manager Mikayla Rice said sheep show entries have been good, with Corriedales the feature breed this year.

The ticketed fashion parade event returns to Sheepvention this Saturday night from 6pm after being absent for nine years, with a focus on showcasing on available fashion from Australian wool brands.

Victoria’s Minister for Agriculture Michaela Settle will open Sheepvention on Sunday at 10.30am at the kitchen stage in the big new shed.

Hamilton P& A Society president Darren Schurmann with business manager Mikayla Rice.

Ms Rice said the Sunday program will also include the start of the CopRice Victorian Farm Dog Championship, the new farmers challenge event, the judging of the inventions competition, shearing and wool handling competitions.

“Our farmers challenge is a bit of a fun team activity, with teams of four going through an obstacle course doing things like rolling a swag, tying a rope and stacking hay.”

The winning team will win a $1000 donation to their preferred charity or sporting club, she said.

The Women In Ag luncheon on Sunday will feature vet Jane Gaussen, wool and egg producer Marnie Luhrs AWN sheep and wool specialist Millie Austin in a panel discussion moderated by Kath Jenkins from Rural People Co.

On Monday, well-known journalist and fiction writer Chris Uhlmann will discuss the current global energy crisis in the fourth annual Peter Schroder Lecture.

Events continuing on Monday will include sheep judging, the yard dog trial, and the winning invention entries will be on display. For more details click here.