EVERY afternoon when the works all done the jackaroos from Barcaldine Downs, Barcaldine head to the ram shed, but it’s not to enjoy a few cold ones and some time off.
With the guidance of 2016 Queensland Merino Sheep Young Judges winner and Barcaldine Downs overseer Matthew Baker, Lachlan Munro and Jed Morrison have been building their own judging skills.
The secret training sessions worked a treat with Lachlan winning the State Merino Sheep Young Judges and Jed winning the State Merino Fleece Young Judges in just their second competition.
For Jed the whole experience was new having moved from a Port Macquirie hobby farm with cattle to begin work with sheep on Barcaldine Downs this year.
Lachlan however, comes from a ‘rich background of Merino bloodlines’ being the nephew of Cam Munro, General Manager of Egelabra Merino Stud, NSW.
But it wasn’t until he completed a year of a motorcycle mechanic apprenticeship that he found his calling.
“I didn’t grow up around it, I’m only really new to this,” he said.
“It’s just something I’ve always wanted to do. I would have regretted it if i didn’t come out (to Barcaldine Downs) because its something that you cant pass up.”
Barcaldine Downs overseer Matthew Baker, who was associate judge at the State Sheep Show, said the wins were a credit to the boys.
They will now compete in the national final in Adelaide.
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BY day Grace Peskett, Coban stud, Cunnamulla can be found competing at local shows but by night she swaps her jeans for an apron.
The Year 10 student, who regularly travels home from her school in Dubbo for shows, has big dreams of becoming a chef.
While she was runner up in the state final of the Merino Sheep Young Judges and third in the Merino Fleece Young Judges, her heart lies in the kitchen.
“That’s all I do when I’m home, cook every night,” she said.
Her signature dish is Beef Chow Mein, with a twist.
“I swap the Beef for our own lamb,” she said.