LAMBEX 2018 will celebrate youth in the lamb industry with an unprecedented $13,000 prize pool for its Young Guns Competition.

Nine finalists and three winners will receive $13,000 worth of prizes at the event on August 5-7 in Perth, Western Australia.

The competition aims to reward and encourage young and upcoming producers, industry professionals and scientists to consider a future or ongoing career in the Australian lamb industry.

The three competition categories include high school students; undergraduate, honours, masters or PhD students; and early to mid-career producers and professionals (aged 40 years and under).

Entrants must submit a 350-word response to the question: The Australian lamb and sheep meat industry has a bright future, it is currently worth an estimated $4.38 billion to the national economy and has grown significantly in the past decade. Identify and discuss a key opportunity within the Australian lamb industry and how it will influence the future of the sheep and lamb sector?

A selection panel will choose nine finalists – three from each of the three categories – who will each receive:

• Up to $800 for travel and/or accommodation,
• One complimentary full conference pass including entry to the Fletcher International Welcome Function, Gallagher Breakfast and AWI GrandsLamb Dinner, and
• A complimentary pass to a professional development workshop on Sunday, August 5, 2018.

Three winners will be chosen after finalists deliver a four-minute presentation to the judging panel at the event, including a one-page PowerPoint slide and a poster on their lamb industry involvement.

The winners will each receive a $1000 cash prize and be interviewed on the main stage in front of the LambEx 2018 audience.

LambEx 2018 chair Bindi Murray said the competition helped to promote the many opportunities available in the lamb industry to a younger audience.

“It’s important to help support and provide opportunities for young people in agriculture.

“We need to ensure more young people become involved in the sheep and lamb industry to build on the current buoyancy and help secure its ongoing success,” she said.

Ms Murray said the competition would focus on a wide range of topics within the industry.

“On-farm project topics could focus on research, development and extension projects, genetics, animal production, pasture and grazing management, marketing, environment, welfare, health, or e-technology.

“Off-farm subjects could include transport, processing, storage, retail, food service, new product development, marketing and exports, as well as social and cultural aspects or communication.

“The wide range of topics will help give anyone who meets the entry requirements the chance to enter,” she said.

The competition sponsors are the Australian White Suffolk Association and National Australia Bank.

NAB head of agribusiness SA & WA, Matt O’Dea said it was important to celebrate emerging leaders in the agriculture industry and give them the opportunity to provide input into the direction of their industry.

“NAB Agribusiness throws its support behind this event because we strongly believe in the importance of providing opportunities for young leaders.

“We have great confidence in the future of the sheep and lamb industry with the calibre of young people that the LambEx Young Guns Competition continues to attract,” he said.

Australian White Suffolk Association board member Andrew Heinrich said the Young Guns concept was a great opportunity for youth, and his association was very proud to be a competition sponsor.

“It provides a wonderful example to help young people from within the industry to grow and develop more confidence and experience, as well as improve their networking skills.

“This is the third time that the competition has run, and the third time that the association has been involved in sponsoring it,” he said.

Entries are now open and close on Friday, April 13.

To find out more visit www.lambex.com.au or contact Young Guns coordinator Tina Brock on 08 8332 3277 or email [email protected]