Judge Finley MacDonald discusses the winning entry in the August-drop Poll Dorset ram competition at last year's Sheepvention with Tania King, co-principal of Shellal Poll Dorsets, Hawkesdale.
NEXT WEEK’S Sheepvention sheep show, ram sale, ewe weaner, farm dog and inventions competitions have all received excellent entries and competition is expected to be fierce, Sheepvention president Rob Hartwich said.
“The quality of the exhibits is very high and will surely give the judges a workout,” Mr Hartwich said.
“We are particularly impressed with the 395 rams entered in the sale. The number on offer is a fantastic result.”
Sheepvention will be held on August 6-7 at the Hamilton Showgrounds.
Excitement will be high in the Woolshear shearing events this year with teams from Tasmania, South Australia, Victoria and New Zealand competing.
World shearing champion Shannon Warnest will also be showing off his skills in an interstate teams challenge.
Wool handling competitions and blade shearing events are again expected to draw big interest.
The Taste of the Great Southwest Marquee has become a hub for gourmet food lovers.
A wide range of epicurean delights will be available for tasting and sale in the marquee.
The kitchen will be in full swing, with Ricardo Momesso, from the hatted Melbourne restaurant Sarti, demonstrating lamb cooking throughout Sheepvention.
Patrons will also be able to see the presentation of the Young Chef Challenge.
The competition involves young chefs at eateries in Hamilton and surrounds who have showcased lamb dishes on their menus during July.
Visitors to Hamilton can enjoy the delicious lamb dishes at participating restaurants.
The new Discover Wool Fashion Event will give patrons the opportunity to see top woollen garments from designers such as Collette Dinigan, Emu, Danielle Chiel and Wayne Cooper, plus designs entered in the Australasian Young Designer Wool Awards.
As part of its mission to promote wool to the world, Sheepvention will also demonstrate woollen crafts in the Home Paddock Pavilion. People can learn to knit at the Working with Wool site and see demonstrations of wool spinning.
Also in the Home Paddock Pavilion will be demonstrations of cake decorating, quilting, gardening, CWA cooking, scrapbooking and coffee making.
Keen young gardeners can take part in the Sow a Seed Kids Garden activities.
“The variety and quality of over 500 trade sites across the showgrounds is excellent this year,” Mr Hartwich said.
“Visitors can be assured they will be able to see the vast majority of their regular site holders plus some really new and interesting exhibitors, particularly in the SheepTech Marquee.
“With everything on offer we anticipate a terrific crowd and wish every success to all our traders, competitors and exhibitors.”
The Sheepvention committee encouraged visitors to buy tickets online and avoid the queues.
Tickets can be bought at www.hamiltonshowgrounds.com.au up to and during Sheepvention.
A free bus service will run from 3HA studios and the Coles car park, and a free service will also run from the Hamilton saleyards.
Sheepvention tickets can be bought on the buses to save time at the entry points.
