Ms Huf, 25, of Hawkesdale, competed this month before big crowds across three days against 40 other wool handlers from 32 countries.

Shearing and wool handling are big spectator sports in New Zealand and Ms Huf said the championships, which also involve shearing, had a “wonderful” atmosphere similar to the Olympics.

The packed stadium she competed in was similar in size to the Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne.

“It was pretty special,” she said.

Ms Huf competed in two preliminary rounds, a semi and then the grand final to gain her fourth placing.

Under time pressure, she threw and skirted eight fleeces. four of them from long wool sheep and the other four from short wool sheep, and tidied up her work area.

“It’s judged on the quicker you can be to do the best quality job,” Ms Huf said.

She also came second in the wool handling teams event, working with Melanie Morris of Tasmania.

Ms Huf was chosen to represent Australia in the international competition after winning the national wool handling championships last October. 

A mother of a one-year-old son, Ms Huf will go in local wool handling competitions this year to continue honing her skills in preparation to for state selection in July. 

She hopes to again to go on to national selection in October and fly the flag for Australia at international level.

The wool industry is in Ms Huf’s blood. She has been competing in wool handling competitions for about 10 years and is a part-time wool handling instructor at the Rural Industries Skills Training college at Hamilton. Married to a shearer, she works on her father’s sheep and beef farm at Hawkesdale.

She said she loved the teamwork aspect of wool handling, keeping pace with the shearers and ensuring wool growers had the best quality wool going into the wool packs.