A Yarloop teenager is set to be one of eight talented young individuals set to represent WA’s agriculture industry at this year’s National Young Judges and Paraders Championships next month.
The prestigious competition, hosted by Agricultural Shows Australia at the Royal Queensland Show, will run from August 6 to 10.
The championships include paraders of beef and dairy cattle, young judges of beef and dairy cattle, grain, merino sheep and fleece, meat breeds sheep, and poultry, the Australian Young Farmers Challenge, and National Rural Ambassador Award.
Qualification was via success in competitive regional and State competitions.
Competing in the grains young judges category will be Yarloop’s Max Lawrence who said he was excited to represent Western Australia in what would be a good opportunity.
“I’m really looking forward to going over there and doing the best I can,” he said.
The 16-year-old has spent the past three years working with sheep producer Peter Gelmi and volunteers in the sheep pavilion at the Perth Royal Show.
He turned his attention to grain judging this year, after previously competing in sheep handling and judging events across the State.
Max has also worked as a farmhand on a large dairy farm during weekends and schools holidays, and said one of his proudest moments was judging meat sheep at the Perth Royal Show finals in front of hundreds of spectators.
“These competitions are important because they allow people to contribute to the agricultural industry, learn skills you’ll always remember and meet new people,” he said.
Max said he wanted to thank all those who had helped him along the way get into the industry and learn about all the aspects involved with sheep, grain and cattle.
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