In an old wool shed in country Western Australia, young men and women clad in black suits and heavy workboots huddle over tables laden with freshly shorn wool.
"We're judging the person as well — you need clean boots, clean pants, clean shirt, tie needs to be done up properly. "I won the merino fleece judging at the Royal Show, which qualified me for nationals in Tasmania in 2023," she says.At just 16, she was the youngest competitor, only missing out on first place by two and a half points after finishing fourth."It was amazing to have that opportunity to meet people in the industry, talk to other competitors and get pointers as well," she says.