TASMANIA’S premier sheep and wool show will be making the state’s wool growers work even harder for the top gongs, for the first time testing for length and strength as well as microns.
The 185th Campbell Town Show will close entries a week earlier than usual on May 19 to allow samples to be sent to the Australian Wool Testing Authority and have the results back in time for judging and presentations.
Held on Friday and Saturday, June 2 and 3, the show’s schedule includes sheep judging of merino, poll merino, corriedale, polwarth, prime lamb breeds and commercial breeds.
A large number of fleeces are expected following a good growing season, with the highlight being the Vitale Barbaris Canonico fleece competition of old New England wool that traditionally records sub 14 microns.
For new president Rob Calvert, it’s familiar territory.
His father Andrew, great-grandfather Robert and brother Alistair are all past presidents and Rob was vice president last year.
Rob runs wool brokerage business Wool Solutions in partnership with his brother, and his involvement with the state’s wool growers and affiliation with the show itself is ingrained.
His grandmother, June, is a stalwalt of the home industries section and the whole family basically wouldn’t miss the show.
“That’s what this show is all about, tradition and community, and the large number of volunteers who hold it all together,” Rob said.
“There will be everything here this year that everyone knows and loves, the sheep judging, fleece competition, shearing competition, equestrian events, woodchopping, Smithfield dogs, yard dogs, and the famous Dashund Dash, as well as the home industries program with everything from photography to cooking.
“The Australian Wool Industry fashion parade is always a drawcard and we’ll have a large number of trade displays.”
Nutrien Ag Solutions continues its long association with the show and
East Coast author and dairy farmer Meg Bignell will be a special guest.
On the Friday Meg will be on the list of guest speakers at the Rabo Bank Ag Forum to be held in the pavilion theatre, bringing together industry specialists covering topical trends and information.
This year’s show also coincides with the Australian Superfine Wool Growers Association AGM to be held in Launceston, and the show committee is expecting delegates to attend the show and take particular interest in the prestigious Grand Champion Fleece and Most Valuable.