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Lamb, wool, youth and rams to feature at Australian Sheep and Wool Show

Sheep Central, July 15, 2015
Sheep show judging at Bendigo.

Sheep show judging at Bendigo.

LAMB, wool and youth will feature in a series of special events at the 138th Australian Sheep and Wool Show at the Bendigo showgrounds for four days from this Friday.

Australian Sheep Breeders Association president Malcolm Starritt said the special events – the Festival of Lamb, Women of Wool, the Young Stud Masters’ Muster, Woolcraft and leading designer fashion parades and the Breeders’ Dinner – strived to inspire an achievable vision for another 100-plus years of sheep breeding.

“The growing involvement of young people – through the schools and junior judging programmes – is immensely important to us.

“Adding to this is the Young Stud Masters’ Muster which provides a networking opportunity for the sheep breeders’ and skilled industry participants who represent our future,” he said.

Mr Starritt said the ASBA was placing particular emphasis on the Breeders’ Dinner this year by providing a platform for all our members to link three generations of industry excellence that marries traditional knowledge with tomorrow’s vital innovation.

Hundreds of sheep will be shown at the four-day event, from July 17-20, culminating in the Merino ram sale on July 20. The show’s rings will decided winners from almost 800 Merino entries, 188 White Suffolk feature show entries, 470 Dorper and White Dorpers, 246 Corriedales, 180 Poll Dorsets, 157 Border Leicesters and hundreds of entries from other breeds.

The National Fleece Competition has had 494 entries and there are 278 woolcraft entries.

Festival of Lamb promotes healthy appreciation

In Bendigo’s Festival of Lamb, the best regional prime lamb and Bendigo’s leading chefs and restaurants will demonstrate to show visitors how to use and appreciate the meat. Bendigo school students will also be at the centre of an ‘Education Hub’ on July 17, to learn about healthy eating and making the best use of lamb cuts.

On July 18 and 19, the food tents will include sessions aimed at educating farmers and the general public about lamb cuts and the best preparation methods for them. The popular ‘Bob the Butcher’ feature of the festival, will teach carving and cuts methods, and conduct a sausage-making masterclass. Visitors can also sample a wide variety of lamb dishes.

This year, the show has joined with local food promotion group, Food Fossickers, a membership-based network that aims to educate people about where their food comes from and to share stories about the producers – from farmers to distributors and through the supply chain.

Visitors can explore many different ways that lamb can be cooked with chefs providing demonstrations and educational material.

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