Longerenong College Certificate IV in Wool Classing students have gained valuable hands-on industry experience at the Australian Sheep and Wool Show in Bendigo, thanks to the support of the Australian Dohne Breeders’ Association. The students participated in fleece and ram judging competitions held in the Dohne Merino Marquee, where they assessed Dohne Merino fleeces before later judging Dohne rams. As part of the competition, students were also required to deliver oral presentations outlining and justifying their judging decisions. Longerenong College Wool Classing Trainer Craig Mackley said the event provided an outstanding opportunity for students to apply their skills in a real-world setting. “This was a fantastic opportunity for our students to gain practical industry experience,” Mr Mackley said. Continue reading →

  A combined carcase and fleece value of $828 won students from Mudgee’s St Matthews Catholic School the overall championship in the NSW Dohne Prime Lamb Schools’ Competition. A total of 26 schools and 260 high school students from across the state competed in the inaugural Community Bank Gilgandra and Central NSW Bendigo Bank NSW Dohne Prime Lamb Schools Competition at Orange, NSW, on July 29. Initiated and supported by the Australian Dohne Breeders’ Association, the competition was designed to develop the next generation of farmers, decision makers and industry leaders. Continue reading →

Moama Anglican Grammar values hands-on agricultural experiences and greatly appreciates its connection with the Australian Dohne Breeders’ Association. The opportunity for students to participate in the Australian Sheep and Wool Show in Bendigo through the Dohne Marquee program has opened students’ eyes to the depth and diversity of the sheep industry and provided a valuable bridge between classroom learning and real-world application. The impact of this involvement has been significant. Students have been inspired to pursue work placements on sheep properties, further develop their skills by participating in other sheep meat and fleece judging competitions and study agriculture at a tertiary level. Many now aspire to long-term careers within the sheep industry, a pathway highlighted in the accompanying article by Lexie Heinrich, whose confidence to participate in judging competitions was sparked due to encouragement from Dohne breeders. Continue reading →

When MAGS came to the Australian Sheep and Wool show to show our sheep in 2022, we all were given the opportunity to visit the Dohne Marquee and hear from breeders and guests within the association. It was an amazing experience, hearing from many farmers with extensive knowledge about breeding and selling superior Dohne sheep as well as keeping a high quality within the breed. I personally learnt a lot from the people apart of the Australian Dohne Breeders' Association, being able to network with others in the sheep industry and actually see how far you can go within this industry. Their passion to keep the wool industry alive was extremely encouraging and drove me to the realisation that I wanted to be a part of that. Continue reading →

For more than a century, Longerenong College has stood at the heart of agricultural education in Western Victoria, quietly shaping the people and practices that underpin Australia’s rural industries. Among its many contributions, few have been as enduring or as influential as its role in training generations of wool classers, specialists whose skills remain fundamental to the strength of Australia’s wool industry. At the Australian Sheep & Wool Show being held in Bendigo, students gain invaluable exposure to subjective fleece judging, sheep breed judging and industry standards at the highest level. These experiences reinforce classroom learning while building professional networks that often shape future careers. Continue reading →