IT IS widely regarded as the biggest sheep-judging competition in the world and it's about to celebrate a milestone.
The Peppin-Shaw Riverina Merino ewe flock competition will celebrate its 21st birthday next year, and organisers are expecting big crowds to look at the sheep on display.
Peppin Shaw president David Rankin, who manages Tupra Station at Oxley, in NSW, said this was the year to visit.
"This will be a great chance for visitors to see exactly what the renowned big lines of Hay district sheep can produce," Mr Rankin said.
"The maidens in this competition were born in a good year following the best season for a decade last year, and have had the chance to really develop to their full potential."
He said the sheep on display would be "magnificent", citing the $281 paid for young Merino ewes in Hay in September as an example of the value of breeders.
The Peppin-Shaw competition was established to try to improve the quality of sheep bred in the Riverina and the western division of NSW.
Independent judges rate the sheep, with the votes this year going to Will Roberts, from Morven in Queensland, and Cam Munro from Warren in NSW.
But visitors are also encouraged to pick the winners, with informal competitions held each day to vote whose flock was the best.
The competition was rained out this year, leaving the winner to be decided at the Hay Sheep Show.
It went to Croidon, at Hay.
The Peppin-Shaw will be run on February 7-8.
- For more details, phone secretary Stacy Lugsdin on 0428 931 931.
